Goodison Park could become the new home for Everton's women

Everton are considering making Goodison Park the new home for the club’s women’s team as it is vacated by the men's team next season.

The Athletic is reporting that the departure of the men’s team has opened the possibility of Everton Women, who play in the Women’s Super League, moving into the stadium full-time,  according to sources who wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships.

Everton Women currently play their home matches at Walton Hall Park, a 2,200-capacity stadium (500 seats) located in Walton, Liverpool, 5 miles outside the city centre. Walton Hall Park has been the team’s home since 2020, after moving from Haig Avenue, the home of National League North side Southport FC located almost 20 miles north of the city.

Walton Hall Park’s limitations — its size, location from the city centre, lack of appropriate seating, lack of shelter from the elements and restricted catering options — however, are not seen as conducive to growing the profile and appeal of the women’s team for potential fans, a goal set by new owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), which took over the club in December. The ground is owned by Liverpool Council and rented by the club, meaning any facility enhancement would need to be agreed in conjunction with the council.

TFG has vowed to invest significantly in the women’s team. This was reflected in the January transfer window as the club brought in five players including midfielder Hayley Ladd from Manchester United, France forward Kelly Gago from Nantes and the loan signing of Barcelona defender Martina Fernandez in a boost to Brian Sorensen’s historically underfunded side.

A move to Goodison Park is perceived as another sign of the owners’ ambition to breathe life back into the two-time FA Cup winners.

The WSL also has a league-wide average attendance target every season as part of the Partnership Agreement with the collective clubs. While individual teams are not held to specific attendance targets, growing average attendance remains a priority for clubs to consider.

The option of making Goodison Park the full-time home of the women’s team arrives as the future of the historic ground remains unknown. In April 2020, the club submitted an outline for the Goodison Legacy Project to local government. The plan suggested several ways in which the 3.39-ha site can remain an important community asset beyond the Everton men’s departure, including affordable and social housing, a community health and medical centre, residential care, an enterprise building, a new education centre, offices, community-focused retail, three residential towers and a park.

Moving Everton Women to Goodison Park full-time is viewed as not a replacement for the Legacy Project but a means of supplementing it. No decision on the Legacy Project and a possible move for the women’s team can be made until the men’s first team officially leave the ground and relocate to the new stadium.

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