The Best Bits of Goodison Park

Micky Norman 05/11/2007 16comments  |  Jump to last
Having given up my season ticket a couple of years ago for family reasons, I?ve found myself in the intervening time to be a bit of a Goodison wanderer.

Before the seats went into the Gwladys St end, that was my patch. To go anywhere else in the ground was unthinkable. You rolled up in the general area, about three stanchions from the front and around the edge of the penalty area towards the Bullens Rd side and all your mates and some you weren?t too friendly with would be within earshot. Since then I?ve had season tickets for the Paddock and the lower Bullens. These were partly for a quick run to the car near Queens Drive at the end of the match.

The last couple of years have seen me just happy to get anywhere in the ground where we can get the three or four seats close together that I usually book. We tend to get stuck in the corners of the various stands and have had some pretty crap seats, often with restricted view for at least one of us. For the Brum game we were in the Bullens corner of Gwladys St and although the atmosphere was pretty good, and the place was rocking at the end of course, the view was crap.

So this is where I think we could start a thread of comments. I can now get a season ticket again and will start with a half ticket after Christmas. I?ll be getting whatever is available and for now it will be me on my lonesome. Reading this will be blues from all over the ground so the question is: What?s the best bit of Goodison and why? Likewise, which bits of the ground would you not want to be in? I know this may well be a totally irrelevant argument soon- and don?t want to go into that here but I thought it would be interesting. Are you an away fan baiter in the Park End corner or one of those supporters who like to look down on the big picture from the Top Balcony?

Reader Comments

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John Lloyd
1   Posted 06/11/2007 at 08:59:25

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I have held season tickets in the gwladys then later in the paddock, and when the park end opened I have been in there since. That is my favorite part without a shadow of a doubt, 1st year it opened we got our ticket with me grandad and his mate & I remember the first game. Walked through stanley park, Amokachi’s debut v QPR, mad game (2-2 I think).

My grandad cant go any more, but I’m still in the park end, havent kept the same seats, but you cant beat it for me.

My grandad
Mark Stone
2   Posted 06/11/2007 at 09:10:38

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I was put off the park end a few years ago because I was sat in front of this filthy elderly woman spitting, swearing her head off and coming out with all kinds of racist shit at our own players week-in week-out. Obviously it’s probably not all like that but still it was enough to put me off. Paddock is much better!
Barry Lightfoot
3   Posted 06/11/2007 at 10:17:14

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I watched the whole of the eighties from the top balcony it’s a great view and you can really see how the team plays and moves (obviously pointless during the nineties).

Currently in the main stand with various pillars blocking the veiw.
Greg Murphy
4   Posted 06/11/2007 at 10:45:22

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Although I’m a Park Ender, I had to swap with my nephew in the Balcony for the opening game v Wigan. I echo what Barry has just said. I was amazed at the view. Yeah, it’s a bit "whooa" to begin with but 10-mins into it and I’d well-adjusted my bearings (just knew not to look up at the edge of the roof!). It was right at the very end of the stand (last block) near the Park End (it looks like you can’t see past the Park End roof but you can) and I know there’s loads of free seats there that can be snapped up on a half season-ticket basis. The reading of the game is great - way better than the Park End - and there’s a good atmos too.
Having said all that, my fave place is actually the bend between the Upper Gwladys and the Upper Bullens. That’s where I started in 72 and presuming we’ve only got three seasons left at the GOL I’m gonna jib my Park End ST for the final season and finish my Goodison days there. Dreading it. Good luck spec-hunting Mick.
Tom Hughes
5   Posted 06/11/2007 at 12:24:30

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I have always promised myself that I would one day graduate to sitting on the sides...... especially if my eyes start to go, but have never got round to it. I watched my first 20+ season’s worth from the Gwladys street, mostly downstairs, but the odd season upstairs. Generally I found the view excellent upstairs, but I was in the second row in line with just inside the area. It was also a great atmosphere in there. Since the Park-end was redeveloped I have been in there. It generally offers the most comfort, but I mainly like it for the view I have of the rest of the ground. The two old stands are absolutely majestic from this end, and even the collosal mainstand seems to have decent proportions, whereas it looks a bit like its collapsing into the Park-end from the other end. For cup games we usually wander around the various stands. The upper Bullens and Top Balcony can offer excellent views of the play, and help to sample the atmosphere generated from both ends equally. For me the lower stands are a bit too shallow after the comfort and good sightlines of the Park end, but you can get pretty close to the action if that’s your preferred vantage point. Hopefully you will have much longer than you think to sample the old lady!!!
Neil McKinney
6   Posted 06/11/2007 at 11:59:45

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Due to my location in Leeds, I am limited in the amount of games I manage to get to.

This season I have been in Gwladys Street on three occasions, top balcony once and Upper Bullens once.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the vantage point from the top balcony of the main stand, though the atmosphere doesn’t come near the Gwladys St which has to be my favourite. However, I was disappointed with the Bullens Road side of the ground. As I have stated on other threads, I was lucky enough to be at the Brum game, but whilst it would never have ruined my enjoyment of a visit to GP, it was distinctly uncomfortable and the view was very restricted.

The back of the seat in front pressed against my shins even when sat as far back on my seat as possible. I spent most of the game in a standing/perched position as I could not bear to sit (fortunately being on the back row I could do this as I did not block anyone’s view). I had a pillar that from my view ran along the edge of the Gwladys St end penalty area and the TV gantry that meant anytime the ball went in the air I lost it. The concourse at the back was awful as well and is in itself an argument for a new stadium or major renovation. I will say one thing though, none of it mattered a toss when Carsley thrashed in the second goal! The Upper Bullens erupted and everyone went crazy!

So, despite the seat in front having the last laugh by leaving a 4" gash in my leg suffered while celebrating the winning goal, my conclusion would be that I would probably sit anywhere in GP, I’m just happy to be there at all. Would be nice to have a bit of leg room and completely unobstructed views.

It all depends what you’re after. If you want to be able to see the game unfold and watch the movement, then I would suggest the Top Balcony. But if you want atmos then I would say Gwladys St.
John Maxwell
7   Posted 06/11/2007 at 13:03:31

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As a non season ticket holder and non evertonia member I felt lucky to purchase two tickets for the recent Merseyside Derby.. Main Stand £36 each WOW !.. All was good until we found our seats.. They were in the top right hand corner of the main stand near the Gwladys Street end. The view was diabolical, when everyone stood up we had to stand on the seats with barely a view of the game..

Goodison is great for 25,000 people, but for the rest of us its a pretty bad..

Roll on Kirkby !!
JL Slap
8   Posted 06/11/2007 at 13:23:37

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Am I being harsh here? but to John Maxwell - you just dont get it do you?
Ray Nickson
9   Posted 06/11/2007 at 13:21:08

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Mickey,
That ’spec’ in Gwaladys St was mine for years too and it was full of characters. Happy days, even when we were crap. Loads of memories
Terry Smith
10   Posted 06/11/2007 at 14:36:03

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When i started going the game at the age of 13 it was only the Gwladys for me up until i was 25.Me & a few other mates decided to get in the Park End just above the exits near the away fans is a great seat superb views and good banter with the away fans.worth the money
Mark Stone
11   Posted 06/11/2007 at 15:06:18

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J L Slap - yes your being harsh
Arthur jones
12   Posted 06/11/2007 at 17:00:19

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my season ticket is in the park end now . I moved there as I have arthritis in my knees and find it hard to get about , the access to my seat is great and the view is superb . I have had a season ticket in the paddock near the front which wasn’t bad but try to get to he toilet at half time ?? the facilties are antiquated , I’ve also had a season ticket in the Gwladys st (lower) , the atmosphere is great but I was lucky and had a central view in row m so I could see most of the game until everyone stood up , no objecton to that but my knees wouldn’t really allow me to do that too much . I have watched lots of games fom the top balcony in my pre-season ticket days and have to say for the view this is the best .
Peter Fearon
13   Posted 06/11/2007 at 20:30:27

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I’ve stood or sat in just about every part of Goodison over the years. When i started going, you couldn stand in Park End and shove your way round to the Gwladys Street end of Goodison Road at half time. I find the best view is from front two or three rows of the Lower Bullens Road although many fans don’t like it there.
Dan Miller
14   Posted 07/11/2007 at 01:59:53

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I concur with Peter Fearon - the Lower Bullens (particularly towards the Gwladys Street) is great. I too have been in nearly every part of the ground for the past 38 years - Street End top and bottom, Main Stand - even the 300 club - and the rest of the ground on occasion. I?ve formed a different perspective over time on which parts I liked - yes I think my eyes have gone a little bit so it was really easy to put up with the distance from halfway back in the St End, Main Stand etc.

As a general POV I never really liked the Top Balcony (great view of the play but so far removed from the cut and thrust of the game). I used to prefer the top tier of the St End a lot but the sun often gets in your eyes for the first 30 minutes!!

If you can stand the possibly inclement conditions the Bullens Paddock is really close to the action. I?m only 8 rows back in the Lower Bullens tier and it?s not the best spot but it?s dry and there?s no pillar in my way!

I?ve never really liked the Park End - to me it?s too redolent of the visitors sections in days of yore!!

Perhaps you should take the tour when you view the free seats on offer and make your mind up!
Paul Boyce
15   Posted 07/11/2007 at 06:47:14

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You can't beat the view from the Top Balcony. At the Park End there are no obstructed views, although living overseas the scouse humour and passion is there no matter where you sit.
Andy Broughton
16   Posted 18/06/2008 at 13:05:19

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Forgive me ressurecting this - does anyone have any experience of PE7? I love PE6 but there aren’t great specs left - the next section has loads and I wondered why - can’t remember if the stand side obstructs the view of the away fans and hence minimises the baiting opportunities which are a big part of the match for me.
Any advice? Ta!


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