Goodison Park set to be the new home for Everton Women

Great decision from TFG.

All 3 stadiums we have built will stand.

One the oldest, grandest and most historic.
One the newest and best on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.

And the other filled with bitters, ASBOs, and tourists.

Onwards and upwards.

Proud to be a Blue!

Fans have already started buying their seats? Surely they wouldn't do that if they still needed them?

Great news, BTW, and a real statement of intent for women's football by the club.

First again, Everton.

I hope that this website will mark the occasion by celebrating women's football as well as men's in future. Dedicated articles and sections to Everton women's events, reports and fixtures.

For too long ToffeeWeb has ignored this growing part of the Blues family. I'm just one voice on this site and that's frankly embarrassing.

Goodison remains a place to enjoy and smile when we go there... a big day.

With expected lower crowds, it will be a chance to improve the density of seating to provide a better match experience. Could be the technology around to replace concrete posts with some new fangled transparent material?

Glad that the stadium is being repurposed!

It gets headlines in all national media – I see headlines like 'Everton thump United' and think 'Wow! I had no idea we were playing!' Click on the link only to find It's the women's game.

It's a good day for Women's footy, they've just been given the best stadium in the world for free. But please, no more infiltration into the space we have for footy talk. At least for the rest of the day.

Alternatively, just remove all seats and buy new ones.

More revenue for the owners.

Just sounds a bit of a logistic ball ache to have to remove them, then move them around or replace them?

I suppose they know what they are doing, hopefully.

I can go back to sleep with a smile on my face... the fat lady never got to sing!

Considering the crap women's sport has had to put up with over the last few years with, for example, 6-foot-plus ex-Olympic (male) swimmers, winning everything in women's sport, it's a wonder the media is so behind it.

The thought of demolishing the (joint) oldest purpose-built stadium in the world to be replaced by a 'mixed use' space never sat well with me.

Keeps some of our footprint in L4 and now we will have two stadiums in the city.

I hate to think of Goodison demolished and it means there will be fututre opportunities to visit the ground and rekindle so many memeories whilst the women make their own history.

The women's game will go from strength to strength and this will bode well for the local community.

It would be good on occasional matchdays at the new stadium that a women's game could be a curtain raiser with fans allowed in to watch the game early... It would certainly give the team a wonderful experience.

As the baby of three siblings, I've always wished for the best for the ladies in our lives ~ but a baby brother would always wish for the best as he grew up with a favourable bias toward his sisters.

It's great to hear that the ladies in our lives will be able to keep “the Old Lady” able to house the game alive for the other gender, while us blue blokes get to build the atmosphere in our new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.

UTFT

A 40,000 seater stadium with a few thousand in it won't look good.

23 degrees in the shade, Peter Reid swears on Sly Sports at 11:30 in the morning and 'Goodison's Alive'!

The question is whether in a few years that novelty will have worn off and will the women's team have generated to support, success and status to keep it going.

But at the moment, I just have tear in my eye.

To Anjishnu - over on GrandOldTeam they have a dedicated thread for the Ladies team. There's a poster there by the name of Ring Master who seems to be either involved with the team, or close, as they tend to know who's being released / who's being signed etc.

Maybe approach and ask if they'd be interested in producing content for TW?

Whether you are for the move to the new stadium or against (I'm against), it will do nothing to help acceptance of the new stadium whilst Goodison Park is still operating up the road.

Assuming most buy their seats, I assume it will be safe standing only.

Looking forward to seeing the results but it won't happen overnight.

Surely the club will, you know, put more seats in Anthony #14

Why Everton are moving the women’s team into Goodison Park

Also, for supporters like you and me who never wanted to leave Goodison, at least we can still go and visit.

Maybe a shade of pink.

However, commercially, perhaps not the best idea… but then we are very community driven.

Goodison will always remain part of our history. Memories will never fade away. Glad it will be remaining.

To me, the end should be the end, however sad that might be.

To have what ever remains of Goodison Park hosting a totally inferior product in front of a smattering of spectators is not a fitting requiem for the Old Lady.

If the owners use it also as a way for supporters being able to see games from the new stadium on TV or screens, as well! as live Women's and Under-21s games would be nice.

At some stage, the City Council together with the club and local residents need to take a detailed look at the whole neighbourhood, but this will do for starters.

This looks like a serious move to make Everton Women competitive again.

I guess PSR wise they could sell Goodison Park to the women's team for £200M and that's money for the men's team and PSR… I wonder if that is in the thinking? They could sell joint season tickets for both men's and women's. It might encourage more fans.

This is an absolutely brilliant move and means Sunday will now not be as emotional. It's not goodbye, just adieu.

Think of the families that over the years had ashes scattered there. They still have a place to visit the plaques will still remain etc.

I'm really happy with this news.

One of ToffeeWeb's longstanding qualities is that language and views are not policed from on high, that views that don't swim with the progressive agenda aren't automatically deleted.

As soon as such a section is introduced (regardless of who actually wants it), it will be a slippery slope. It'll be: "I note that the men's always have their match report posted as the main headline on the site, but that the women have to make do with one headline half way down the page."

And on and on it will go, and soon, we will have a BBC situation, where in an attempt at fairness, a game which nobody watches will be taking up a third of the space on the website. I can make this prediction with some confidence, cos that's what has already happened across the main-stream media.

A Last Look Back at The Grand Old Lady - post 25

Anjishnu created this thread after the initial comments/news about the women's team.

Will that be a fitting legacy? Not sure.

Sorry, Anjishnu, I take it back!

Are you saying females only like pink?

Paul, the legacy project was dependant on Goodison being demolished so I don't see how you believe "from the statement" the legacy plans will be kept.

Like others, I imagine the Top Balcony might go eventually.

You could also envisage them using the more updated facilities (Park End) for people pre game at the new stadium, with shuttles.

And as someone else suggested, maybe screen big games that are oversold at the new stadium.

The fact that anyone would rather bulldoze Goodison into rubble to satisfy their misogyny and snub women's football baffles me.

It will be great to see more Everton Women's content on TW too. Why stop at 33% when it could be 50-50? As long as there is no less to read about on the men's team, nobody loses, and I'm pretty sure the internet can cope with double the Everton content being published here.

As others have said, Goodison will be adapted to better suit the team's needs because, hey, time moves on and things change...

Except maybe the views of those stuck in the past where acknowledging 51% of the population is seen as "progressive" and are aghast at the thought of having to scroll slightly further down the main page of a website.

That the Everton fan base is now so riddled with woke is disturbing.

Goodison will of course require another remodel. The Athletic reports that the top tiers of the Main Stand, the Gwladys Street and Bullens Road stands will be closed, and I'm guessing they will eventually be removed to make the capacity more appropriate to smaller crowds, as has been done in the US with some famous old NFL and baseball venues. (I played in one, Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.) The Friedkins will be familiar with those projects.

Imagine the thrill the women will get from playing in this legendary ground.

And I'm totally fine with more women's coverage on TW. There are great stories to tell. There's a lovely article on The Athletic website right now about Everton's identical Holmgaard twins and how they deliberately confuse opponents and teammates alike. Fun stuff.

A lot more than it will bring in.

It's like you are looking for an argument of which no one else wants any part.

Romal has built hundreds of residential properties at Central Docks. Peel Holdings is pleading innocence in any wrong doings.

We may not have a hotel for a dodgy transfer but, by stating the stadium is being transferred to the Ladies team, must mean we can spend more money on the first team?

As a side point, where will everyone sit if I and others have bought their seats? 🤔😂

How much do you weigh? 😀

However, keeping Goodison Park for the women's team, what a brilliant idea. So much better than tearing the old girl down.

Martin, we get it: for some reason, you don't want Goodison used by Women. The vast majority of Everton fans disagree but each to their own.

Do you hate Everton Ladies? If they went on to become the best team in the country, would you not want them to win? I want every single Everton team to win no matter what level they play at. This will help them and only has positives.

I think the oldest purpose-built ground in the country deserves saving. What does it take to get a Blue plaque listed preservation order?

Most of us didn't wait until we were 40 to be aware of social issues.

Now apart from the occasional game, Goodison is going to be standing alone, empty most of the time. That's a sad thought.

I think I'll wait and see what happens. The article in the Los Angeles Times has left me quite emotional now.

I hope they have some clever ideas as to how they'll work on the Gwladys Street and Bullens Road stands whilst respecting the architectural significance of the structures.

Looking forward to seeing the details.

I think it would have been very fitting and was a great plan. Nothing to do with hating women or women's football.

They must have had no interest from commercial developers.

It's going to need plenty of other money generating events to make keeping Goodison Park alive!!

They have said will be used also for some academy games and as the relocated HQ for Everton in the Community. So it will be in more regular use too, not just for women's games. Compared to more unaffordable 'affordable' apartment blocks, that's a much better use of the land for the community.

The Boxing Day game in 1920 that changed women’s football

That Boxing Day match led to it being banned from any FA affiliated grounds etc for 50 years!

Why accept the plans of the previous regime? It's a significant asset that could/can be put to use. If it isn't viable for the women and academy in the long term, there may be other options.

It seems to be a straightforward business decision by new owners who, at the very least, seem to have a strategy.

Are we going to watch the Old Lady slowly decline? What does it do for the area? Instead of development, it will basically get an empty stadium with a few very small match day crowds.

As mentioned by someone earlier, there's a decent benefit to Everton from this. Investment in women's football is written off for the purposes of PSR. I wonder how much the stadium will be sold to the Ladies' team for? A net zero transaction on paper only that will put a lot of money in the transfer kitty.

For now, the old girl breathes a sigh of relief and gets a stay of execution.

It should have been knocked down and redeveloped to regenerate the area.

Already got Biggest Stadium in Women's Football.
£8M spent on getting the best players (Merseyside Millionaires Mk 2)
Wage bill for 22 players = £7M
20,000 Evertonians there every week, maybe just for the stadium.
Loads of money, superb stadium, fullish houses.
All outside of PSR
Who would not want to come and play for Everton Ladies?

2025-6 consolidation
2026-7 WSL Champions
2027-8 Women's European Champions.

And this is a sport with a far higher profile in the US than in the UK.
TFG know what they are doing. A quick win for very little cost.

And I love the suggestion of EFC selling GP to the women's team for £200M. The £200M is outside of PSR but, if Chelsea's hotel counts as income, so does this, so no PSR issues and more money to spend.

Love the idea!

She has to go. Rebuild a purpose built smaller, single tier stadium.

A good example is what Wimbledon have done at Plough Lane. The new Cherry Red Records Stadium (yes bad sponsor name), which I've been to this season, is really smart and houses about 9,000.

If we're going to keep her as a football legacy, replace her, don't use in her current form.

In Liverpool, we have a reputation of prematurely bulldozing monuments we then regret, such as the Cavern and the Overhead Railway.

Maybe this venture gives everyone more time to consider a longer-term national future for the Old Lady.

I fell back to sleep happy, but waking this morning I find the comments by Martin Mason and Kevin Molloy a disgrace and an affront to women in general. Not good enough to bear watching female sport Martin? Inferior are we? Woke? Socialist? You absolute disgrace of a human being.

Kevin, ToffeeWeb is a fan site for all things Everton, not just the men's team, it's not a "ToffeeWeb Premier League, men only website" — it's Everton.

Socialist, Martin? Woke? I hope your stiff upper lip is wobbling, there is nothing 'woke' about 50% of the population being considered, but of course we are inferior in everything to do with sport, according to you, and don't deserve recognition or consideration.

I would imagine this to be a commercial decision for TFG as much as a brand development one. The cost of demolition and redevelopment would require significant forethought and upfront costs in the millions.

I just cannot believe the attitude of some people... I find it abusive but then I represent 0.001% of fans on this website. I wonder why we are so few?

Also, think it would take much more than a redevelopment of Goodison to regenerate L4 tbh. The area needs much more than that.

You claim to have been socially aware all your life; I highly doubt that considering your use of 'woke' as an insult. Some of us always have been woke — nothing about left or right leanings, it never was, it's about being a decent human being.

Your comments about the women's team are an embarrassment.

It would be great to see the women's team as well as the U21s and U18s play at a new Goodison Park. It would have true meaning for them and keep the tradition alive.

John, I like the idea of a museum, but I would like to see it on the plaza at the new stadium, or perhaps at Nelson Dock if we purchase that, which I think we will. And forget that hidden store in the Liverpool One shopping complex. Get in their faces and build something opposite theirs on Williamson Square. I'm probably getting carried away.

I totally agree on the redevelopment of L4 and the area surrounding Goodison. Long neglected and one of the most deprived areas in the country, but the people are the best you will meet. I love the place, despite being a south ender, which some of my friends remind me of regularly!! I genuinely fear for those businesses and area that I've grown up with.

It's our City. Something I remind anyone I speak to all of the time.

As well as the much talked about redevelopment of the north Docks, surely the council, city region and Everton should have County Road and the surrounding area in consideration to where the clubs deep roots are and will always belong.

Maybe that's just me.

Anyway I'm not going to debate it anymore as it detracts from what most of us consider to be a really positive news story about the club.

You've you're opinion and you're entitled to it as are we all

Whether it's women's football or any other sport (male or female), I'm a fan of extending the Everton brand.

Other big teams have plenty of associated sports and its something our new owners appear ready to explore.

I've watched women's football numerous times even before it was rebtanded. Everton used to be one of the best teams in the country only Arsenal Ladies stopped them winning more.

If this helps the team get back to the top I'm all for it.

A winning Everton women's team improves the Everton brand these days that's what is all about getting the name out there

As for ToffeeWeb having articles, it would be fine for me as I can keep up with the team news on them easier.

Do you know 100% what the best financial decision is? Who knows what TFG have planned and what the economics are?

I don't know the numbers, but the owners don't seem to be the sentimental type to me.

I think the female game standards have improved significantly and will continue to do so.

When I used to coach, at a reasonably high standard, we adopted a one club approach. This was early days. We used to coach the female team and have their coaches stand alongside us coaching the males.

I always remember Sian Massey-Ellis, the female official, starting her career on the line at Army matches before she progressed to the top flight. She knew her stuff and didn't take any shit. And she was good at putting people back in their places.

Of course the standards will always differ, just like any sport. I've been picked up on the ski slopes by females far superior to me more than once and have a good friend who ran the Boston Marathon in 3 hours. I was always fit, but she put me in the shadows.

Football should always be for all. You see that in the stands every week.I've been told more than once to get a grip by a fellow female supporter!! That's Scouse women for you I suppose. My mother once told me that only a Scouser should marry a Scouse women. I married a West Midlands girl, which was equally as challenging.

That alone is reason to keep the site and keep it alive. Perhaps, just maybe we have a shrewd owner at last and some people just haven't spotted that yet.

I think having the women's team at home there, and redeveloping the ground is a great idea, and the Friedkin's have history of doing this. Roma women won the league with great support from the owners, so I'd imagine they have the same vision for Everton - success!

And here's the rub - if it goes belly-up, guess what? They can still sell it to a developer.

Everton is a club, that has always had many teams. We used to have the reserves (Central League). Now we have the academy, U21s and U18s. And of course the women's team that carry the badge.

The female game is growing fast. The US and, if I recall, Germany and Norway were pioneers.

Nothing wrong with an opinion and it shouldn't be considered sexist.

ToffeeWeb is a forum for all Evertonians, regardless of gender.

It's far too big for WSL crowds. We'll now have the upkeep costs of a second large stadium, parts of which are nearly 100 years old and will be getting increasingly expensive to maintain (surely one of the reasons for moving out in the first place).

Given its historical significance there's a good chance it gets listed, and then we're stuck with it.

Except, which might be telling here, in September 2024 it was granted immunity from listing by Historic England. I suspect there may be redevelopment plans afoot.

I don't think you're sexist but to call those of us who enjoy all Everton teams insecure is a tad insulting, don't you think? There's no pretending either – Everton does have multiple teams, has done for years… supporting them is a personal choice.

I'm so happy TFG have made this decision.

The women's game has grown exponentially in the last decade with further growth expected, so it could prove to be a very shrewd move in a few years time.

And who knows, if the WSL vow never to introduce VAR, then crowds may one day surpass those of the men's team!

Lots of the community stuff that was in the Goodison Legacy project will still happen as part of this and there will be lot about EitC too

Your definition is what it has been perversely twisted into by right-wingers who use it as a pejorative to insult people who have awareness of, and the desire to address, social injustice and discrimination.

Deliberate use of the word signifies not only denial of the existence of social injustice but derogation of those who recognize it, and it tells everyone who reads it exactly who you are and what you believe.

Are they still selling those £90 seat backs? And what was that framed patch of grass? Surely a wind-up?

For me, such commercial monetization of the stadium sends the wrong message, and now telling us the stadium isn't done — less than a week before it was all set to be done — seems a little dubious, to say the least.

A 39.000 plus stadium to show half a dozen WSL games? How is that financially viable as the ground won’t even get to 50% capacity (probably a lot less).

There’s not enough money in the women’s game to sustain this. So I’m undecided and hope it works out for the best.

I've always struggled, though, with the drive for equality in football. It seems to start with a point of just deciding that the women's game is the same. It just isn't. I don't think it's even worth debating that point. Wouldn't it make more sense to accept that it is its own version of the game and is developing in it's own right?

The above posts seem to be generally in the "I support all Everton teams" camp. If that's even slightly representative of our support then you'd expect to see a few thousand more at matches. Or is it just virtue signalling?

I’ll give Dan Friedkin and company the benefit of the doubt.

All the top tiers will be closed in any case

Why should middle age, balding, fat men tell her that her football is less than the men’s game

In the US, the women's pro league draws less than half the attendance of MLS... the record one-game attendance is only 35K, which wouldn't even fill Goodison. The average salary is $65K for women and $354K (disproportionately juiced by Messi/Insigne/Bousquets) for men. Are the women lobbying for salary equality? No. They'd be laughed out of the building.

On the other hand, the US women have won four World Cups and five Olympic golds -- our men, of course, have never done diddly-squat -- and they regularly outdraw the men for internationals. Bigger crowds, more revenue. So when they sued for similar compensation, they won, and well deserved based on performance.

But it's not what anybody would call "equality".

It's a historical monument that should be preserved.

I have always held the opinion that it should hold the David France Everton Collection so hope this may be considered.

Regarding Everton Ladies moving to Goodison, until we try we won't know.
It was a sell out crowd at Goodison in 1920 that led to the FA banning women from playing on member clubs grounds. The ban lasted 50 years, where would the women's game be today without that intervention

I may be fat and middle aged (with a good head of hair) but I never said women's football is less important. I don't get to define that.

I said it's different. And it's definitely less important to me personally. Everton FC is in my blood - I feel nothing close to that for the women's team. That's not misogyny... just a statement of how I feel, irrationally, about one football team. I'll suggest there is decent evidence that I'm far from alone in that among supporters of all genders.

American Owners may have more experience and exposure to success in the USA and I welcome more input into the Everton Women team, which having started well never got Club support.I suppose they suffered from the malaise of the regime in place.

I can see Goodison being a mixed development along with improved football facilities.TFG seem more supportive and I wish them every success.

Live and Let Live boys and girls, we'll all be adults soon !!

Personally I'm made up as Goodison will not be bulldozed.

A stadium of some sorts and maintaining presence in the area would be tremendous. Two stadiums in one city, our city, would be a statement. And although a long way off, the UK has been selected to host the Women's World Cup in 2035. Let's hope that Goodison or the Everton Stadium are venues.

To me, this decision, which has made the national news, is a sign that the new regime are re-considering a lot that went before them. Maybe we are finally getting our marketing and commercial act together. There may not be the money in the women's game as in the men's. There will never be, but it is increasing and will continue to grow. Most importantly, it will assist promoting football for all in the local and regional community.

Ryan, I am 53, so considered middle aged. I am not fat or balding and do regular hill sprint shuttles. Okay, these days, they are more nearly sprints!!

That's tongue in cheek, not a dig. On a more serious note, you make some really good comments on the female sport and being supportive of it.

I remember a girl who played for us. She was a great player. When aged 10, it was announced that she could no longer play for us. We were gutted and she was devastated, as there was no place for her to go and play football.

Different times for the right reasons.

I was given a couple of tickets to the Arsenal vs Chelsea women's game earlier in the year. There 45,000 people there and I was really surprised how many dads and lads were there. The atmosphere was no different from any other game and it's certainly going places.

Unless there are plans to also host commercial events too, eg, bands and concerts? Would it not be able to be used for all the U18s and U21s too so it would concentrate all the Everton teams outside of the Premier League under one roof?

However, I feel the standard at International level and at the very top of the WSL is very good and with more investment in the different infrastructure required, standards throughout the leagues will improve.

I wonder how many of the posters who have written negatively about women's football have actually watched any games.

If by keeping Goodison it also means getting young fans, both girls and boys in to watch a game or two, then surely the profile of the club will improve and we will begin to reclaim the City. These young fans could provide the core of our future fanbase and getting them engaged in Everton is vital. Remember, our women's team has a decent record in the derby, unbeaten for a few years. What's not to like?

Personally, I am delighted that Goodison isn't going, even if there are major changes to the infrastructure over the years.

I am sure there's been a lot of thought gone into the plan.

This article might be of interest...

Meet Michele Kang – the woman leading a football revolution

The upkeep and maintenance, the safety issues if the top tiers were shut down, I just don't see it.

The owners are not daft so there must be an angle they're playing somewhere I can't see.

Secondly, I'll counter your virtue signalling dig with a question. Are you saying only fans that go the match are supporters? Are you saying every ToffeeWeb fan who doesn't go the game doesn't support the team?

By your logic, you would expect Everton to get 100,000 every game... we can't because capacity is limited.

Nothing at all to do with virtue signalling, but you raise a valid point: Will this lead to increased capacity?

More people will definitely go at the start at least. Goodison is a draw on its own. If the women start winning, fans will come.

I'll definitely be attending their games if they don't clash with the men's matches I attend.

I am sure, we'll find out down the line and then they'll be plenty of 'told you so's!

As well as pressing matters of investment in the first team squad, it is encouraging to see them looking bigger picture.

The venue has an active safety certificate etc, so they'll take a view of what the women's set up really need, knowing that the existing arrangements are not up to scratch.

I'd have no issue with the women playing at the new EVerton Stadium. But if gates can get to 15-20,000 on a regular basis, and it's commercial, then they do need a venue that meets that need longer term.

Not sure what the cost of a ticket is, but that needs to be considered if it's only a couple of quid, ie, they aren't going to build new stands if the gate receipt is only £45k a game.

Ernie says: It seems to start with a point of just deciding that the women's game is the same. It just isn't.

Ernie, it most certainly IS the same game: eleven a side, exactly the same rules, no difference apart from the gender of the players.

Would I go to watch Everton women at Goodison? No, wouldn't contemplate it for a second.

Would I go to watch the men's Under-18s or Under-21s at Goodison? No.

Do I hope the aforementioned teams do well? Of course I do, but my desire to go to the game to watch the match lies with the Everton team that still (thankfully) play in the Premier League.

There are posters on here who have misogynistic views just as there are posters on here who are virtue signalling. They stand out like sore thumbs. However, posters arguing for or against the subject in hand doesn't necessarily mean that poster hasto fall into either category, IMHO.

Your last sentence.

Spot on. ;-)

The only elephant in the room is the Neanderthal attitude being displayed by one or two men on this site and that might show up around the ground.

Why not groundshare with Liverpool Ladies?

Twice as much footfall!!!

Considering, though, all the reasons we are moving, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this decision is reversed over the summer.

I can't be arsed with freindlies either.

The Park End is modern enough to remain intact. This causes some problems, as it's capacity alone is more than sufficient for the women's game at the moment. But assuming that stays, I'd like to see the Bullens Road stand remain in some form, given it's historical significance. Perhaps the Gwladys Street stand could be rebuilt in a similar, wrap around style with a reduced capacity.

When it comes to the Main Stand, no doubt they will close the Top Balcony in the short term. In the long term, I imagine it would have to be redeveloped.

As long as the historical features of the Bullens Road stand are preserved, any redevelopment is fine with me. This is the first purpose-built football stadium in the world, and it's great that it's being spared. A Redrow estate with some poorly maintained marker where the centre circle used to be wouldn't be anywhere near fitting for a stadium of Goodison's importance over the years.

I wonder what we'll be labelled as? ;-))

Dave Abrahams will no doubt tell me!

Obviously on a smaller scale, many people in the area I live in, which isn't cheap, purchase a property. Then then have it demolished and build something new.

For me, Goodison as is would only be viable if we took away the Top Balcony, Main Stand, Upper Gwladys and Upper Bullens. And close off the upper parts of the lower Gwladys and Lower Bullens due to the restricted views. That would leave the front of the lower Gwladys, the Enclosure, the Park End and Bullens Paddock.

But that would be complex and probably expensive. It would be easier and long-term more cost effective to demolish and rebuild something more suitable on the same site, now that the club has decided to keep her.

Whatever happens won't do so overnight, so Goodison will still be with us next season.

Get down to Goodison Park!!

Goodison is nothing if it's not a heritage attraction. A complete rebuild wouldn't make sense in that regard.

On a serious note, my daughter plays football — I've seen the explosion of girls' football and I think it's only going to get bigger and better.

Now I'm not the brightest person in the world but encouraging both girls and boys to be playing football is better than being stuck inside on YouTube or TikTok.

I'm 43, balding and a little bit out of shape!

Like John @(129) and a couple of others, I just don't think this plan will occur; it just doesn't seem feasible to me and I think the new owners will reverse this plan and we won't have to wait too long for that decision.

Good on your girl and yes, the women's game has already grown and will continue to do so. Hopefully, Everton jumping on this will give her and others the opportunity to pull on the Royal Blue Jersey.

I know that not everyone can and have to watch from the screen / laptop / tablet, myself including sometimes. But you simply cannot beat watching the game live with the naked eye to get a real feel for the match and players. That's when the atmosphere doesn't take over, even for the over middle aged me!!

I've lost counts of how many times I've had to turn to the person next to me and asked who scored in the moment.

Woke in modern politics is a terrible distortion of that noble and correct and decent aim. Now, it is anti-anything that is supported by the right and often supportive of whacko policies which aren't necessarily supported by decent people. [Btw, I have no political label attached to me, I'm a political atheist.]

Andrew @126, if you refer to me in your comment on, socialism then you couldn't have got it more wrong. I didn't say that WSL was associated with socialism, I said that being woke in the modern sense was.

That is the end of the issue for me too, sorry, as it has the potential to become ridiculous.

It was also announced within the last couple of days that the U21s will stop playing at Haig Avenue.

The Main Stand also contains a lot of office / administrative space. Part of the professionalisation that TFG are bringing will see an increase in headcount. There's already plans to increase the coaching staff etc. to develop the women's game (at multiple levels) at Everton.

So it stacks up from that perspective.

Overtime, as others have suggested, some of the stands could be partially removed and repurposed. Maybe a permanent home found for the Everton Collection. Also an exhibition of some sort about the history of stadium development, an opportunity to showcase the Everton "firsts" we're all familiar with.

James #97 mentioned the developer value being £5m - unless I am wrong, I believe that was the book value of the stadium. The development value would be what someone was prepared to pay for it, based on how they could make a profit on it.

The original legacy project IIRC talked about an Everton School, a Mental Health facility, as well as the oft-mentioned affordable (to whom?) housing. But that went quiet a few years ago and hasn't been talked about in the last couple of years in the transition from Moshiri to TFG. I suspect it was fundability.

To clear that site would easily cost around £3m - possibly more as it's within an active residential area (anyone in construction / demolition feel free to correct me).

I think - even as an interim solution for 5 years or so - this makes financial sense.

It's been announced, it will happen, so let's wait and see what transpires. Having already seen my last game at Goodison last season (1-2 v Luton!), I'd certainly be delighted to go back again to watch a match.

Whatever next? They'll be giving them the vote before you know it!

(Irony alert)

There are costs of a demolition and then the 'do nothing' option because the original plan is currently not viable (social housing plus social infrastructure).
A revised plan is needed.

Save costs at Walton Hall Park and Southport, do the minimum to sustain the Goodison safety certificate with cost-effective improvements. Use an existing asset to best effect until the moment is right for a more commercially beneficial plan and time.

I suspect, if this is loss-making, it can also offset the profits of Everton FC for PSR purposes. I think it's the best financial option on the table short term.

I have only read your first 2 comments. I read your first and then looked forward to your next post hoping you would not disappoint by using the word 'woke'. So thank you. Sigh.

Attendances at the women's game are increasing exponentially, I think I read that numbers doubled in 12 months (could be way off though). Interest is increasing all the time, and tickets are affordable and not the rip-off that is top-level men's football.

Many of us would love to visit Goodison Park again – my last trip was the pre-season draw against Roma and I'm gutted not to have made it to another (home) match this season. I've seen the women play a few times, so will happily go to watch them at Goodison Park.

Am I correct that money spent on the women's and youth teams is excluded from PSR? In that case, any money spent on the upkeep of Goodison Park and developing the women's team means more money can be spent on the men's team. It could be a sneaky way of allowing us and extra player or two in the squad.

Friedkin turned the Roma women's team into Cup Winners and Champions in a few short years – they are serious about developing the game!

Finally, I'd love to see my talented niece run out at GP to Z-Cars.

In that respect, they have time to consider future plans.

Paul, it was always going to happen. I hope the player is safe and recovers. Stop this allowing play to continue. I'm all for allowing play to flow, but when it's obvious, make the call and stop the game. It can be continued with the benefit of a review.

I applaud Everton's decision to keep Goodison and let the ladies team play there. Again ,another first for our club with Everton ladies playing in a purpose-built stadium just for them, and I wish them all the best of luck.

You may not be a million miles from the truth but I doubt it as it far too near to the Southampton game for too many other thoughts.

TFG are investors who aim to run successful businesses. In this context, this news was a surprise to me. I immediately thought that there was more to the story than met the eye. The more I have thought about, it the more I am convinced that to be the case.

I believe that, whilst it is a great fillip for the Ladies and the Academy the attendances to those matches, together with whatever costs there will be to make Goodison suitable, will not make economic sense now or in the foreseeable future. There has to be another reason or reasons.

TFG have made this announcement while they think about it and decide what to do. Fair play to them. Maybe it also to prevent souvenir hunters on Sunday which also was likely.

Whether it be events or selling off part of the land to fund whatever, I am not going to hazard a guess, but there has got to be reasons which may become clear in the fullness of time. It may also provide a PSR boost to the balance sheet. Again, it is a wait-and-see situation but I can't get away from my initial thoughts about it...

And who knows? Perhaps some of the knuckle-dragging cavemen who have embarrassed themselves in this thread might actually start to have their prehistoric views shifted by going to see the new Blues at Goodison Park?

It's great for Walton L4, where I grew up, that a new hub, a new identity is reborn on the site of our great old stadium. Get down there, spend your money in the shops, the pubs and the chippies and help the community and the women's team. Up the Toffees.

Good on you.

I hope we can take this announcement at face value, Goodison survives, and the women's game goes from strength to strength.

Regardless of what Goodison will look like and my own personal opinions, we are keeping her in some form or other.

But it is for the local businesses, like you say, chippies, pubs and shops, that Goodison has been a lifeline, who will benefit. That has concerned me from day one, even though I'm not from L4 (L24).

Although, 30 years ago, when redevelopment was ruled out, I was an advocate of moving, it is going to be great having 2 professional stadiums within just over 2 miles of each other.

Won't it be great staring them in the face? I always say they get everywhere. Well, we are not going away. Taking back the city.

Am I correct that money spent on the women's and youth teams offsets FFP? In that case, any money spent on the upkeep of GP and developing the women's team means more money can be spent on the men's team, could be a sneaky way of allowing us and extra player or two in the squad.

Rob, I believe you're not correct there mate. While spending on the women's team, infrastructure etc does not adversely effect PSR it doesn't "improve" or give us an advantage in any way..........unless we fiddle the books.

Good news to some degree for the businesses that feed and water Evertonians on match days, there's some hope.

A great legacy and history being kept alive.

Oh well that joke fell flat.

Brian – what, like Chelsea and their hotel?

I still stand by my comment very early that we could have a Champions of Europe team in just a couple of year. Just read the article about London Lionesses. Didn't realise that Kosovare Aslani was their captain. Swedish born of Kosovo parents. Watched her in the Euros and her skill levels are on par with Messi. Honestly.

But how much has Kang spent? A pittance.

We could have the best women's team in Europe in the biggest stadium.

I also think Goodison can be used to test out the 52,000 capacity. Live stream from the new stadium to Goodison. Paying less but counts towards attending games. Adverts on the screens. Hospitality. If we got 52,000 at BMD and 20,000 at GP, then no risk to make BMD 65,000.

I'm trying to think what kind of derogatory term I could come up with people who use phrases like "the new Everton". Would I last 5 minutes on this thread?

Interesting point, Phil. I don't know the UK regulations, but at present, having been around the country and attended the Everton Stadium, it seems despite safe standing, there is still a one-for-one seat allocation.

If we adopted the continental model, with lifting the seats (folding them) in those areas, the new stadium could easily accommodate 62,000.

To your point on screening matches, it's too late now, but I think the club missed a trick by not putting Sunday's match on the screens at the new stadium. I appreciate that most will want to be in or around Goodison on the day, but it would have been a good alternative.

Aston Villa are looking into it. Despite it always looking massive on the screen, Villa Park's capacity in not much more than Goodison at less than 43,000. With safe standing they believe they could increase that by 8,000.

When you watch games in Germany, how do the seats compare to the UK, regarding leg room and seat width?

Goodison is a crumbling edifice that's costing a small fortune to sustain, and one which not so long ago only just scraped through it's safety certificate. But these shrewd American business men, who've also now got a shrewd CEO who's experienced in two other major stadium transfers, who's merely going to put it at the disposal of our Women's team, who'll struggle to fill 10% of it? It seems to make no sense, unless that is, there's something else at play here, that's not readily obvious.

Such as something that was raised elsewhere, and that is it's sold to the Women team? Because as I understand it, in this brave new world, the Everton we all know and love, is now a collection of businesses, and separate companies.

Ergo Goodison could be sold between companies, generating sizeable income, thus working our way round PSR, just like Chelsea did selling their hotel to themselves?

Just a thought, because I'm struggling with anything else that fits financially, unless someone more knowledgeable in this sphere can come to my aid?

Schalke's official capacity is about 54,000 seated, but goes up to around 62,000 for league matches.

On safe standing, we got about 3,000 tickets for Fulham. They have a neutral section next to the away supporters. Many, myself included made our way to our section as its a shared concourse. Like all away games, everyone was standing, so there will have been more than 3,000 in the away section. All safe and controlled.

The other thing I like about Budesliga matches, apart from the atmosphere, is being treated like an adult and being allowed to take drinks to your seats before and during the match.

Maintenance costs and spending on women's football is PSR exempt so it won't hit our ability to buy players for the men's team.

There's going to be EitC stuff there too.

I'm sure TFG will have a plan.

They are fast approaching Manchester United in terms of debt.

I read somewhere that the UK rule is a spectator must have the option of a seat in a standing area. In Germany, the seat is removed or locked in the up position for safe standing and unavailable.

The maximum number of spectators allowed to stand in a 10 square metre area is 54. Other factors can reduce this, like condition of the terracing or obstacles restricting exiting.
.

I'm baffled as to why putting the word 'new' in front of 'Everton' provokes such a response from you?

It'll be a new era, and it is new to have the women's team playing regularly at Goodison. In fact everything about Everton feels 'new' at the moment.

Personally, by and large, I think that's to be welcomed, even though the new stadium leaves me cold.

And they aren't Blues either.

The mental health hub and the Everton School are already there.

Ryan, I don't think it will be purely on financial terms, but it will be part of the consideration, if we are honest.

There is also the People's Hub as you walk down Spellow Lane towards the Royal Oak, Paul.

Everton's footprint belongs in L4 and this decision is recognising it.

The women and hopefully the U21s and U18s will get to play at Goodison, whatever form it takes in future.

Arsenal made a fortune out of re-developing Highbury, we see the most potential in running our women's team at Goodison Park, which I would think will be loss making (but then again, so has the men's team for years!)

This is not about woke or anything else, it is about commercial appeal of the women's game and whether they will ever be able to charge the ticket prices and attract the spectators at those prices that would generate meaningful revenue for the club. That Euros win was supposed to super charge the domestic game but, to be honest, it remains very small beer.

Maybe Mike G has a point about the much bigger commercial value of the game in Friedkin's native US but I would have thought the main priority is surely to try and grow the appeal of the main men's team there.

There have been many comments extolling
the merits of women's football. I love women to bits,
but as a follower of many sports, there simply aren't
enough hours in the day to waste some by watching
the inferior spectacles provided by sporting women compared to their male counterparts.

The redevelopment value of the Highbury site was huge, and the developers did a fantastic job of preserving some of the facade, including the fabled Marble Hall of the main administration building. Apartments there went for north of a quarter of a million quid.

However, Arsenal funded the Ashburton Grove development without taking on major debt (remember the Debenture Scheme, which they initially launched to redevelop the North Bank post-Taylor, and which extended to putting finance towards the new stadium).

It also seriously hampered their competitiveness on the field — at a time when they were competing at the top. I heard that verbatim from Arsenal execs at a match at Goodison over 10 years ago.

Goodison has little to no redevelopment value if there's no demand for residential. With the development of student and residential accommodation in the City Centre, the other docklands developments, and longer term, Peel's Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters, what use is that site?

I think, by doing this, TFG have kicked the can down the road for maybe 5 years. A lot can change in that time. They've already indicated that they wish the women's team to be competitive, and indications are the squad will be overhauled this summer, and the backroom and support staff bolstered.

Like it or not, like other professional teams, Everton is a brand. TFG wish to increase that global brand value — that's how they'll make their return.

I think you are re-inforcing my point and you are right that Arsenal (and Spurs) were much, much smarter than us at financing. And as you say, Arsenal had real estate value — even the tiniest 1 beds in Highbury Square now sell for around half a million! Without such a bonus, it is so much harder for us to make numbers add up.

You're probably right that it's a case of kicking the can down the road until a better plan comes up, or the women's team do what I do not expect and becomes a profit-making entity within Goodison (assuming that profit is made while accruing the full cost of stadium use, which will be very hard given the men's team couldn't manage it).

Maybe one day the women's football franchise can be as successful as the golf and tennis equivalents, both of which, while some way below the men in commercial appeal, are still very significant franchises, especially tennis (albeit that has been with a big leg up).

Thankfully no… but I think you could lighten up a bit. Remember the pink seats?

Thus I suspect that there was no hope of selling it at a price beneficial to present-day Everton. Geographically and financially, it was never close to the value of the old Highbury, for instance.

Accordingly, Friedkin seems to achieve the best advantage to his and our wallet by designating it as he now does… and I don't blame him.

The first one is how do we fill it? Designed currently for 40,000 fans, it's not going to happen anytime soon… so is this a temporary arrangement or a step towards redevelopment?

Looking at the footprint, it's hard to see what redevelopment could be done without the removal or partial removal of some stands, either for safety or structural reasons.

The departure frees up the significant amount of administration floor space for use by other elements of the club or community but how is this to be done without making it all feel temporary?

Cost. The ugly truth is the use of Goodison solely as a football venue for women's or academy teams is not viable. The footprint, age and condition mean the costs of upkeep are relatively significant, whilst revenue will all but disappear.

Whilst it's iconic, it shouldn't feel like a ghost town. That wouldn't work.

So it has to have a radical rethink of use if it's to be a permanent solution. As such, the replacement or redesign of the stands in line with community and legacy aspirations should still happen.

But "How?" is the question… as the immediate question of "Why?" seems to have satisfied the minds or pockets of TFG.

And other posters too, I expect.

I've been one for demolishing her and I stand by that. Build a new stadium if that is what the club's intent is. But, like you say, initially it will be a temporary use of Goodison as is with, I suspect, only use of the lower sections and Park End.

I think the average crowd for the women's team at Walton Hall Park is about 2,000, so Goodison would look and feel empty and soulless. It's either demolish and rebuild a single tier 4,000 capacity stadium for the females, U18s and U21s for me.

Or just redevelop. For those who have seen it, I like what Arsenal and the developers did with Highbury. Whenever I travel out of Kings Cross for meetings on the train, I go past The Emirates. Within near sight is Highbury. The way they've developed it into housing and a park is great. It still looks like Highbury.

I think, over time, bits will get demolished. The Bullens Road is 99 years old and crumbling. Very soon, bits will not be safe to use once they aren't used every season (Upper Bullens etc) and a new 5,000+ stand can be born in its place for quite a cheap price.

It's also good to hear that TW will have more articles on Everton Women from next season. I'm not a hardcore fan but I do pay attention to see if they have won or lost and I would enjoy learning more about the players and the team... and those that don't, then just don't read it.

As for the comment that the BBC has gone woke and gives 1/3 of space to the women's game... Get a grip, the coverage of the women's game is still tiny. And stay away from the new Goodison; we don't need your misogynistic type there.

I'm hoping they have a longer-term plan than that. I'm repeatedly seeing posts suggesting a complete rebuild. I fail to see the point in that. Going forward, Goodison is a heritage attraction; the historical features along the Bullens Road must be retained.

I agree with all you say. I am a bit suspicious at the timing of the announcement so close to the ‘final' curtain.

An average figure of 2,000 has been mentioned and I assume that takes into account the derby matches at Goodison which will skew the averages. Remember, Walton Hall Park only has a capacity of about 2,200 so no capacity to increase attendance there.

Goodison obviously has a much larger capacity but a quick look at attendances of the last 3 derby games at Goodison shows these figures... tahks to ChatGPT... so perhaps not that accurate:

22,161 vs Liverpool, March 2023
9,457 vs Liverpool, March 2024
9,823 vs Liverpool, November 2024

If these are true, I am wondering what was done to get so many supporters to Goodison for the March 2023 derby match as opposed to the others?

However, without these derby matches... the average attendances show around the 1,200 mark.

Whilst it's great for the Everton Women to have this facility, even with the assumed increase in attendances in women's football, as has been correctly pointed out by ToffeeWebbers, unless many changes are made to Goodison, it's probably not sustainable. It also needs a successful Everton Women's team to garner greater interest.

So...you have to assume The Friedkin Group will have a long-term plan.

Whilst I disagree with your comments, it was wrong of me to get personal and I regret doing so. It won't happen again and it shouldn't have happened. It did and I unreservedly apologize.

Sorry, Martin.

'The Women's team have been playing their football at Walton Hall Park in recent seasons but those facilities were set to fall short of the new stadium requirements from the Women's Super League.'

No idea what these new requirements are but it's handy to have a spare stadium.

I would put trust in our new owners to get it right... I have more faith in them than the previous lot.

Just a thought — on the whole, I'm really happy to see Goodison being used and I imagine there are many, many more ideas how to use and generate revenue from the venue — which will mitigate the perception that the ladies are getting a bit of a free ride.

Can you enlighten us more about this please.

This must have been applied for by the club, but I'd be speculating about why they saw fit to do so; possibly just as a precaution against listing preventing whatever redevelopment might be in the pipeline.

The reply I received was that the owners would have to make any application for listing and this was well before 2924. But from what you say it implies that Historic England can make that decision regardless of the owners?

Can you shed more light on this and is there a difference between Historic England and English Heritage? And their powers?

'"Sorry to say it but I dislike watching women's sports at any level, including football, because it isn't watching at the highest level."
This is a valid comment, not misogynistic in any way and what I like to watch is my business. If I watch sport I try to watch at the highest level. '

But watching Everton hasn't been watching football at the highest level for years - e.g. we haven't been in the Champions League for a very long time. Also we play in the FA and Carabao cups against lower league teams, do you boycott those games?

It is obviously up to you what you want to watch but I think you are missing out. I regularly watch my lads play local league football and also watch a local Northern Premier team. They are both good spectacles because the games are competitive, often far more competitive than the procession that the Premier League seems to resemble.

I raced bikes for years and women's cycling was usually more entertaining than the men's because the racing was less controlled.

Christine #190, I would assume that TFG has already fully assessed the question of "how" -- they wouldn't have made this decision without doing so -- and we will see their solution when it happens.

John #129, I'll take a crack at the "angle" -- I think it's about image, not profitability. There will of course be a do-the-right-thing aspect to supporting the women's game, and preserving the Goodison tradition is a major factor as well.

But I'm also guessing that as TFG rebuild the men's team into a success, they will want that success reflected across the organization. If the men are playing in Europe again, they won't want the world to see the women still stumbling around the Walton Hall pitch.

Chelsea Women is the model. They've recently signed up the top US player and a high-profile investor. TFG may want to compete with that image.

I think Martin's point is that men's sport is at a much higher level than women's in pretty much every case I can think of (if you exclude sports where you have a non human involvement like riding a horse). I think watching the Premiership counts as the highest level (albeit we lose more than we win)

There was a famous match in tennis many years ago when the Williams sisters in their pomp challenged the number 300 players on the men's tour and were well beaten, one after the other. The WTA is actually a very big successful franchise but its players could not survive on the men's ATP tour.

Probably the closest sport would be golf. Several woman have competed on the men's tour but none in modern times ever made the cut. That said, Michelle Wie came within 1 shot in one event and doing so, beat 4 major champions in the field. That's not bad.It's competitive at least.

Of course watching lesser level sport can be rewarding. I sometimes watch my local team Forest Green Rovers. There is indeed much more of a community feel to it.

"The club will now reconfigure Goodison Park, with the Main Stand's top balcony, the Upper Bullens Road Stand and the upper tier of the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End not in use, but instead covered in Everton's women's team branding.'

Whilst I personally think this is a short term solution that will keep costs down, long term some sort of redevelopment rwould have to occur. But in the meantimeI think one way to fill any other gaps, is to offer BMD season ticket holders a free pass to the women's and men's games, or even at a nominal cost at time of season ticket purchase.
This would hark back to the days when your season ticket included attendance at reserve games in the central league.
Might even be enjoyable to many who want to support all the clubs teams or have an interest in women's and academy football. It would also increase attendance and boost the atmosphere and experience of playing at Goodison for the players.

sports.yahoo.com
Why Everton are moving the women’s team into Goodison Park
Megan Feringa and Patrick Boyland
12–16 minutes

First, the feeling was shock. Then, overwhelming relief. The spectre of Goodison Park being bulldozed had long gnawed at the hearts of Everton staff and players, a tension alongside the buzz of moving into the new stadium.

Even plans for a long-mooted Legacy Project came with melancholy, the knowledge that 133 years of history would come to an end.

Advertisement

So when rumours began to rumble throughout the club in January that Goodison Park may instead become the home of the women’s team, maintaining its identity as a home for future Everton teams, the sense of salvation was hard to ignore, according to sources who did not wish to be named to protect relationships.

Following a month-long feasibility study conducted by an external agency on behalf of Everton’s new owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), Everton Women will be moving out of Walton Hall Park and into Goodison Park for the 2025-26 Women’s Super League (WSL) season.

The study focused not only on the financial implications of a move, but also on the cultural and community impact. It assessed whether a move to Goodison for Everton Women would be feasible and sustainable, and whether scope was there to improve the existing facilities at the historic stadium.

Conversations with various stakeholders, including WSL officials, staff, fan groups and local authorities, were part of the process.

Advertisement

Everton acknowledge they will lose money on this, though the loss is not expected to be significant.

An external funding partner is considered unlikely. TFG is prepared to underwrite the next steps for the women’s team as well as the men, having provided resources to improve one of its other sides, Roma Femminile.

Crucially, expenditure on women’s football is not included in profit and sustainability calculations. Last season, Everton received two separate points deductions for breaching financial rules.

Everton in the Community are expected to move their headquarters into the stadium, from nearby Spellow Lane, in an expansion of their existing footprint.

Advertisement

Maintaining a presence in the area has long been considered a priority, with the Kirkdale and County wards situated around Goodison in the top one per cent of the most deprived neighbourhoods nationally.

In a statement on Tuesday, Everton said the relocation would “generate economic opportunities for local businesses through matchday football”. It is anticipated that women’s and girls’ sports and health programmes will be held at the ground, while tours are also expected to continue.

The comparatively shorter domestic season in women’s football (compared to the men’s) means the club will open the pitch and stadium to hire, as well as host select academy matches.

However, Goodison Park will, first and foremost, be the home of Everton Women.

Advertisement

Everton’s pedigree in the women’s game is rich, but persistent challenges and recent mid-table finishes have belied it.

In 1920, Goodison played host to a landmark game between Dick, Kerr Ladies and St Helens Ladies. The 45,000 crowd that day remains one of the largest attendances for a women’s club match in England.

Founded as Everton Ladies FC in 1995, the club were one of the eight founding teams in the inaugural WSL season in 2011 and regularly competed for silverware, including winning the 2010 FA Cup.

Their most recent silverware is the 2017 WSL Spring Series (an interim edition of the WSL between the sixth and seventh full seasons, to allow the league’s change from a summer competition to a winter one).

Advertisement

Restoring Everton to the top of the women’s game to compete with Chelsea and Arsenal is the ambition, and a move to Goodison is viewed as a crucial stepping stone.

Publicly and behind the scenes, TFG made improving the fortunes of manager Brian Sorensen’s side an early priority. It quickly came to the conclusion that facilities for the women’s team were not of the required standard at Walton Hall Park.

TFG has pointed to its track record at Roma, where the women’s team won successive league titles between 2022 and 2024, before being dethroned by rivals Juventus this season, as proof of its commitment.

“We are proud to say our women will have an unrivalled permanent home in the WSL — another statement of intent as we look to build the foundations that will help us challenge for trophies,” Everton CEO Angus Kinnear, a recent arrival from Leeds United, said.

Advertisement

“The women’s game has grown significantly in recent years and we believe that growth will continue and accelerate. We’re under no illusions; there are obstacles we need to overcome to make this a success both practically and economically, but we’re confident that we will overcome those challenges.”

Women’s first-team staff and players at Everton had been aware that the move was likely since the start of the year, but a formal presentation outlining timescales and details was not provided to the team until the week before the official announcement. The prospective move was flagged in a late March address to staff by executive-chair Marc Watts.

While no stands will be knocked down and the structure of Goodison Park is expected to remain intact for at least the next five years, major upgrades to player and fan facilities will take place, including to the dressing rooms and the addition of women’s toilets.

At this stage, there is no need for Everton to submit a planning application. After consultation with league officials, the club have stressed that the stadium meets “many, if not all, of the WSL requirements”.

Advertisement

It is unlikely a pre-season match will be held at the ground given the quick turnaround. The 2025-26 WSL season will commence across the weekend of September 6 and Goodison Park is expected to be ready.

The idea is not to move women into a vacated men’s space, but to turn the men’s space into one appropriate for the women’s team. This will mean configuring the dressing rooms to suit women’s players. On a very basic level, there will be a need for more women’s facilities across the whole stadium.

The women’s team — which has generated an average season attendance of just over 2,000 for the past three years, due largely to the limit of Walton Hall Park — is not expected to fill Goodison’s near 40,000-capacity. That the team only plays 13 to 16 home matches in the season (with a five-week winter break in the middle) poses a financial hurdle.

A reconfiguration of the stadium is a means of offsetting some of the financial loss caused by a drop in gate receipts, as well as addressing the atmosphere from emptier stands.

Advertisement

The plan is to close off the upper tiers of Goodison Park, creating an intimate dome around the pitch. The club say that the capacity will be flexible. Banners, flags and other branding could be used to cover the empty upper tiers, while seats will be sold as close to the pitch as possible first, then moving backwards to meet demand.

That Everton were in a position first to pursue, and then commit, to this move surprised many at the club. While making Goodison Park the home for the women’s team had always been a possibility, the past few years of financial squeezing weighed heavy and few believed they were in a place to consider a move that will cost the club money.

TFG’s arrival in December, though, opened doors that had been closed. Everton had been far down the line on the Legacy Project during Farhad Moshiri’s tenure, going as far as to unveil plans and designs. Little progress was made beyond that point.

After taking over from Moshiri at the end of last year, the new owners pushed for speedy resolutions on the Legacy Project and Goodison’s future.

Advertisement

Now, the two elements will in effect be part of one catch-all solution, even if it means, as sources have suggested, that certain pieces have needed to be ‘untangled’ and plans have had to change.

What was once a community legacy will now incorporate a significant footballing element. There will be no affordable housing development, as was originally anticipated. Mental health initiatives, meanwhile, will continue to take place across EITC sites.

When new owners The Friedkin Group travelled to Liverpool in January and paid a visit to Walton Hall Park (TFG had wanted to attend a competitive match, but the WSL’s winter break, which runs for five weeks between December and January, did not permit), they are said to have been disappointed by the facilities for players and fans.

With Walton Hall Park belonging to Liverpool council and rented by Everton, any adjustments and improvements to facilities were seen as not benefiting Everton in the long term. Further, all refreshment sales did not go to Everton, but to Walton Hall Park.

Advertisement

A capacity of 2,200 (only a portion of which is sheltered) posed issues amid standard-raising by Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, who took over the running of the WSL and Women’s Championship. Everton’s contract with Liverpool City Council over their continued use of Walton Hall Park was set to expire at the end of March.

During their January visit, TFG gathered the women’s team and staff in the middle of the pitch at the Finch Farm training ground and spoke about their vision for the future. The speech, according to those who were there, was rousing, but importantly confirmed that time was of the essence, too.

New contracts for manager Sorensen and assistant manager Stephen Neligan, along with defenders Kenzie Weir and Clare Wheeler and January signings Hayley Ladd and Kelly Gago from Manchester United and Nantes respectively, are viewed as anchoring points for the future.

The departure of the popular women’s CEO Alan McTavish was described by one source as an example of the ownership “not taking any prisoners” in its pursuit of raising standards across the board. A replacement is expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.

Advertisement

“When they were talking about their vision, you could feel they really wanted to invest in us,” Everton midfielder Karen Holmgaard told. “We’ve got money in the women’s team now and we can see the future as better.”

Few, if any, clubs have access to a fully functional, freshly vacated (albeit ageing) stadium ready for a women’s team, so TFG has been smart, too, but it will cost them.

Those within the club believe that if convenience and hard economics were the main driving forces, a move to nearby Widnes or St Helens rugby league clubs would have saved money. Goodison Park, it is estimated, could have been sold to developers for anywhere between £2m-£5million.

The driver behind the move is to give the women’s team a “forever home”, but there is no doubting the recruitment and commercial opportunities this move provides.

Advertisement

A new broadcast deal for the WSL next season means nearly all of Everton’s home matches will be televised on Sky Sports or BBC2.

Turning England’s first purpose-built football stadium into the country’s first standalone women’s football stadium is viewed as a bold and attractive statement for prospective investors and sponsors. In that sense, it is hoped Goodison can be a catalyst for future growth.

Under TFG, sources within the women’s football team say they feel “more seen and included” in the club’s ecosystem, including at Finch Farm, where they have been sharing facilities and training pitches with the men’s first team and academy teams.

Staff and players rarely interacted with the previous owners and many of the women’s staff say they felt siloed from club decisions.

Advertisement

Instilling that same sensation among fans is the next step, sources say. It is hoped that nostalgia and force of habit will help catalyse larger, long-term attendances for the women’s team, though the ability to attract new fans who might not have felt comfortable attending a men’s game is a factor.

Remaining in the city of Liverpool is likely to be a big draw. Everton’s research showed that just under 60 per cent of WSL matchgoers live within 20 kilometers of a stadium.

Next season, Everton are hopeful of putting on more pre-match events and engaging local women’s and girls’ community groups.

The club are aware of the perception of the ground not being “fit for purpose” for the men’s team and do not want the conclusion to be drawn that what is not OK for the men’s team is for the women’s team.

Advertisement

Goodison Park will not be stripped of its history and all statues will remain in place. New women’s team-specific branding will be added inside and eventually outside the ground.

Success for the women’s team will be determined by results on the pitch and the club are not expecting attendances to quadruple in one season. The move is viewed as part of a long-term investment in the women’s team under TFG.

How successful the club’s American ownership is in achieving its lofty goals remains to be seen, but after a turbulent couple of years, a bold new vision may be just what Everton Women need.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Everton, Sports Business, UK Women's Football, Goodbye Goodison Park

Originally published by The Ahletic and re-published by MSN 2025

I can only surmise that the procedures around listing have changed since then, because if only the owners of a building could apply to get listed status there would seem to be no need for such a thing as a certificate of immunity.

I can understand an owner, especially Chairman Bill, not wanting to apply themselves for listed status as it will require financial and social responsibilities, albeit with associated grants.

But as it's the first dedicated football stadium in the country I would think the wider world of football would have an interest in preserving it, well maybe not them lot over the park.

My hope was that it could house the Everton Collection of Dr. David France, and maybe used in conjunction with The National Football Museum for exhibits.

But it does seem ominous that the immunity is up in 5 years and the short term plan for the ladies team is to occupy it for 5 years?

I doubt it myself because I think it would just make the club would look stupid, but I was at Goodison Pk, for a few minutes yesterday, and I think the staff are both excited and also nervous because they estimate that around seventy thousand people could be around the stadium on Sunday.

I heard that the Wilmslow Pub, are having a street party, and are putting 16 televisions on Goodison Rd, for everyone in that vicinity to be able to watch the game.

I heard there is going to be three separate groups/musicians, playing after the game but only if the fans can behave themselves and stay off the pitch.

The tour manager of Everton, along with a couple of other staff was absolutely brilliant yesterday and let me and another fella, into the ground to take a few photos pitch side, when I explained we had a non verbal, non hearing autistic child, who was once a very lucky charm to our club, and I just hope that Everton, can become a lot more ruthless and professional as a football club, without losing that common scouse/humanity touch🍀

I got my few minutes inside an empty Goodison, and could feel the spirits in the sunshine and also in the shade, and for those people who are lucky enough to be inside the stadium on Sunday, I suggest you don’t forget to bring a few tissues, for obvious reasons💙

Broadcast rights and sponsorship of the women's game will only grow over the next 10 years.

TFG can also take a leaf out of the Chelsea book and sell the park end car park to ourselves to avoid psr followed but he women's football team followed by repurchasing Goodison from the women's team!

I will actually go to a couple of the women's games and sit in my original spec where I sat with my dad, uncle and brother maybe have a pint in the Clock or Abbey before the game. It's comforting to know the ground isn't going to be demolished.

Can't think of many thinks more suitable than the grand old lady hosting a new generation of Everton ladies and being the biggest regularly used stadium in the women's game! Hopefully this, along with the new owners investment and nouse can make that team able to attract better players and challenge for honours AND potentially create revenue opportunities that benefit the whole club!

Just look at what's happened with the Chelsea team to see how quickly things are moving - that team has been valued at over £200M, not just by Chelsea's accoutants, but by external investment as well. The women's game as a whole is accelerating incredibly quickly.

Obviously the WSL may not be at the standard of the FPL just yet, but its far from terrible either and there are incidentally PLENTY of terrible players, teams and games being played at supposedly high levels of the men's game. I support my son's U14 team and to be honest I've seen some more exciting football served up in both those arenas than our own first team has put out on many occasions.

If you don't want to watch women play, fair enough, some people feel the same about internationals or other leagues, but I think you'll find yourself battling against the grain and ultimately will come round.
Personally speaking, as a London-based Blue, I'd love to be able to come up to see two games in a day or weekend - one at Goodison and another at Bramley Moore (not quite got my head around Hill Dickinson yet!), and I'll definitely take the opportunity for a pilgrimage next season!

Good move by our new owners who seem to be making a series of good decisions right now.

Despite my initial sentiment that we should demolish and move on.

Looks like, as is always the case, new leadership comes in and changes the direction of travel.

For those who haven't watched the Goodbye to Goodison documentary on Sky, do so.

Like him, blame, or don't trust his word, Moshiri makes an interesting comment. Apparently he was informed informed that Goodison would have to be demolished by 2028.

If that is true, at some point, restructuring or a rebuild will be needed.