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

01/03/2025 53comments  |  Jump to last

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.

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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.



Reader Comments (53)

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Dennis Stevens
1 Posted 01/03/2025 at 12:40:02
If Goodison were to still be used for matches, then maybe U21, etc. could also use the facility. Interesting idea, I suppose TFG will be reviewing absolutely everything as they shape the future of the Club in the way they see fit.
Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 01/03/2025 at 12:46:53
A plaintive wailing sound was heard, somewhere in the corner between the Gwladys Street and Bullens Road stands. From an erie, rotund, rather ghost-like figure…

"But what about the Safety Certificate?"

Allen Rodgers
3 Posted 01/03/2025 at 14:19:58
Good idea for the womens but especially the u21's. I'm sure lots of locals fans would go and support local pubs etc. if they are still in business by then.
Peter Thistle
4 Posted 01/03/2025 at 15:39:31
I can't stand women's football but anything that would stop Goodison being demolished is a great idea.
Kevin Molloy
5 Posted 01/03/2025 at 16:57:15
Peter yes agreed. v fed up with reading headlines like 'Chelsea in surprise win away at Everton' before realising it's the womens' football given as a headline, when it's not in any way headline news.
Brian Wilkinson
6 Posted 01/03/2025 at 17:25:59
I wonder if the Fredkins could do a Chelsea and sell Goodison park to one of their partner companies.
Kieran Kinsella
7 Posted 01/03/2025 at 17:35:22
Goodison should be demolished. Once it is no longer our home it needs to be wiped off the face of the Earth rather than allowed to decay into some kind of backstreet oddity for delinquents to vandalize.

I don't think it would be a good venue for the women's team as nothing sucks the life out of a home team more than playing in front of 38,000 empty seats. If the owners want to invest in the women's team then build a custom stadium suitable for their fan base but allowing for growth so 5,000 seater or something.

Brian Williams
8 Posted 01/03/2025 at 17:45:27
I hope the club go ahead with the plan/s already in place for the demolition and re purposing.
Gerry Quinn
9 Posted 01/03/2025 at 18:51:37
What kind of attendances do they get:
a) at Walton Hall Park (ever had full capacity?)
b) when they had played at Goodison?
Kieran Kinsella
10 Posted 01/03/2025 at 18:58:48
Gerry,

Their last two home games v Villa and Leicester, the attendance was 900 and 700 respectively. In Goodison they'd be outnumbered by groundstaff etc.

Barry McNally
11 Posted 01/03/2025 at 20:06:18
Anyone have an idea of the annual running costs of Goodison?
Tony Abrahams
12 Posted 01/03/2025 at 20:12:37
Probably a lot less than it’s going to cost ripping Goodison apart Barry?
Danny O'Neill
13 Posted 01/03/2025 at 20:22:04
I think go ahead with the demolition.

The female team, U21s and U18s would barely make a scratch on the near 40,000 capacity. It would be likely that only the Paddock, Park End, Enclosure and front of the lower Gwladys Street would be open.

Repeat warning, as I've been harping on about this as much as I have about a monorail and other transport links over the last few years.

Build a small single story mini Goodison down towards the Gwladys Street. Probably inline with where the current Main Stand meets St Luke's. Let's say a 4,000 seater.

I'm no architect, but if we imagine the footprint no longer existing of the current stands, there is room to do this and still leave space for housing development towards the Park End.

I don't know how far confirmed the Goodison Legacy Project is, but if there is still scope for reconsidering, I personally would look at this, because then, we leave a footballing legacy at Goodison Park.

Paul Ferry
15 Posted 02/03/2025 at 06:30:33
Danny, I like the idea of a smaller purpose-built Goodison Park, but the capacity would need to be at least double 4,000 and probably higher if TFG did pour a decent amount of money into improving the Evertonesses and their facilities (maybe even a ladies' bog, Kevin Molloy).

Wouldn't it be lovely if the good doctor's collection was housed next door with other similarly thoughtful additions?

Joe McMahon
16 Posted 02/03/2025 at 07:59:38
As others have said, even if all 900 were in one stand it still would look pathetic. Maintenance costs and saftely for such an old run down stadium will not be worth it. Time to let it go, clinging on to the past has already damaged the club.

Everton Football club have a new home.

Paul Hewitt
17 Posted 02/03/2025 at 09:23:27
Sell it to a developer, must be worth a few quid.
Danny O'Neill
18 Posted 02/03/2025 at 09:47:47
Maybe Paul F, on the higher capacity, and the owners probably wanting to see a return of investment.

I'm just always conscious of making sure there is an atmosphere in any stadium. Build big and there may be a decent crowd, but the ground looks half empty and it impacts the atmosphere.

That's why I'm not one to get excited over the near 53,000 capacity of Bramley Moore. I'd rather see a packed stadium than empty seats.

I don't know the UK's stance on safe standing in terms of law and legislation, but I know of clubs on the continent, with similar sized stadiums, who, with safe standing, can increase to over 60,000 for league matches. I've no idea how that works, so don't ask, but it does!!

Mark Murphy
19 Posted 02/03/2025 at 10:26:48
I’m assuming that IF this goes ahead it will be a drastically remodelled and scale downed version of Goodison Park. There’s no way those huges stands are going to remain given that they are already crumbling.
He who should not be named was probably exaggerating when he spoke of failing safety tests ar the time but the time that’s an actuality must be close.
Rob Halligan
20 Posted 02/03/2025 at 10:37:40
Paul # 17……….what happened to the old St. Helens rugby ground when they moved to The Wankado Stadium, or whatever it’s called?
Mark Murphy
21 Posted 02/03/2025 at 10:53:10
Wankado??? Why you….i oughta…
Grrrr shut your pie hole you!
It’s “posh” housing now.
“Posh” is St Helens for “new and not terraced”
UTFT and NWOTS!
Rob Halligan
22 Posted 02/03/2025 at 11:09:06
Mark, I was being polite there…….I normally say St. Bellends! 😂😂😂
Danny O'Neill
23 Posted 02/03/2025 at 11:11:33
So "new" equates to having a garden and inside toilets Mark?!!!

I think the term being used for the developments at Goodison is "affordable" housing. God knows what that means.

I don't know what's happened to the old Rugby League stadiums. Widnes done theirs out years ago. It's actually quite smart.

Our reserves and female teams played there for a while before changing to Southport and Walton Hall Park respectively, although most of the U21s and U18s matches I've watched lately (not many), tend to be at Finch Farm.

Mark Murphy
24 Posted 02/03/2025 at 11:32:15
Rob Halligan and polite aren’t often seen in the same post…
See you soon I hope.

On that note I’m trying to get two tickets for the West Ham (or Arsenal) game to take my son Joe to his last game at Goodison.
Official members resale site has them sold out but I see hundreds on tour sites. I’ve written to the club to ask if they are looking into this.
BUT are there any good hearted Blues out there who cant make either game and could help me out please??
UTFT

Rob Halligan
25 Posted 02/03/2025 at 13:56:10
Danny, an inside toilet in St Bellends is normally an old tin bucket, usually the one that was used in the outside “Privy”. 🤣🤣🤣
David Bromwell
26 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:00:46
I thought this was a brilliant idea, for both the Club and the neighbourhood. Clearly the Stadium would have to be scaled down and remodelled with space provided for community facilities, perhaps residential units in the form of flats. All this would be very expensive and I am not sure there would be anybody willing to foot the bill. However, it's nice to dream and what a legacy we would be leaving.
Alan Polak
27 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:22:59
A brilliant idea. I am a season ticket holder for the Women's team and started going to Goodison in our Championship Season of 1962-63.

Keeping Goodison as a football stadium is something that should be welcomed by all Everton fans.

Rob Halligan
28 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:29:44
Anthony Gordon sent off for violent conduct, so a 3-match ban, meaning he will miss the Carabao Cup Final……..Shame! 😂😂
Colin Crooks
29 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:30:32
Gordon most definitely is a moron
Rob Halligan
30 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:33:32
Straight red, Colin, so it can be appealed, but I doubt very much any appeal would be successful.
Colin Crooks
31 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:36:27
Nah Rob

If he gets away with that the games more bent than we thought...Fuck

Paul Ferry
32 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:36:41
Ace, and love that the moron will miss the final, but we need the skunks to win it. And 10 each now, Lumptey Lamptey did not need to make that challenge. What a strike that was
Paul Ferry
33 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:39:24
A quite a bonkers few minutes there…
Rob Halligan
34 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:44:04
Schar well offside!
Mark Murphy
35 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:45:30
Why did Schar turn into Ian Wright on that VAR reconstruction??

And the Numpty Lampty... another tit! Glad we missed out on him.

Paul Ferry
36 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:15:12
Get in!
Steve Brown
37 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:18:58
The barcodes shouldn’t be too down.

They have the League Cup Final to look forward to losing soon.

Rob Halligan
38 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:24:20
Skunk maggots out! Seventy years and counting!
Steve Brown
39 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:25:53
And 98 years since they won the league.
Steve Brown
40 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:26:31
As you say Rob, big club my arse!
Rob Halligan
41 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:29:08
A Fulham win at Man Utd will go down just fine. 🍺🍺🍺
Rob Halligan
42 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:30:36
98 years since they won the league, Steve…..fuck me, there won’t be a person alive who will remember that. And they think they are bigger than us. 😂😂😂😂
Steve Brown
43 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:52:43
Laurel and Hardy made their first film together in 1927 - the same year as Newcastle last won the league.
Danny O'Neill
44 Posted 02/03/2025 at 17:23:15
They think they are bigger than everyone Rob. Almost as entitled as the entitled without much to back it up.
Paul Ferry
45 Posted 02/03/2025 at 18:08:38
We beat Bournemouth we could have won this cup.
Paul Ferry
46 Posted 02/03/2025 at 18:18:32
By the way, LL has a PL week thread on Evertonia in the beautiful game forum.
Danny Baily
47 Posted 02/03/2025 at 20:57:56
I would suggest that it wouldn't be cost effective for Goodison, in any form resembling it's current state, to be used for under-21's or the women's team.

Having said that, MLB hosted a regular season game at an historic stadium last year (Rickwood Field) and it looked great. I'd love it if Goodison could be retained in some form as a football stadium, I just can't see it happening, unfortunately.

Alan McGuffog
48 Posted 03/03/2025 at 08:23:01
Goodison will be retained for the women's team. And the new monorail service to Bramley-Moore Dock from the town centre will have a spur taking supporters up through Kirkdale to Goodison for these games.

The monorail will connect with the new ferry terminal at the dock for supporters from over the water. Talk of helicopter landing pads in Stanley Park is well wide of the mark though.

All we need is the Arteta money.

Danny O'Neill
49 Posted 03/03/2025 at 08:49:56
I hope so Alan as I've been boring everyone with my suggestion of a monorail for years!! I'd extend it running from Brunswick to Sandhills stations. That way it takes in places like the Albert Dock, the back of Liverpool One, the Pier Head, Business district, hotels and Bramley Moore. For visitors to the city

I know our thoughts are logistics for the new stadium, but anything we do has to benefit the city of Liverpool as well. And colour them Royal blue, with blue tinted windows. The Goodison Line!!

On the subject, I never understood why the city didn't put one in between South Parkway and the airport, stopping at the retail park and hotels that have sprung up.

I know there are buses and I'm not anti-bus, but presentationally, much better for visitors. It works well at Dusseldorf airport for those who have flown to and from there.

Anyway, enough of my latest monorail talk. I'm beginning to sound monologue on the topic!!

Ray Robinson
50 Posted 03/03/2025 at 09:06:39
How on earth could Goodison be maintained economically in any shape or form? Despite the media hype, women’s football isn’t that well followed.

Alan, #48, if only you’d included the helipad, I might have believed you!!!!

Martin Berry
51 Posted 03/03/2025 at 13:24:05
I don't think this will happen, the maintenance costs and the work on an aging structure ? these will only be harder to implement and worse over time.

What may happen is the pitch being left in place with a smaller stand area put in place, but again the costs ?

Also the previous Everton legacy on the site of Goodison would that be scrapped.

Personally and a great idea if possible, would be for TFG to purchase Nelson dock, extend Evertons footprint and build a smaller stadium on it for the ladies, this could also be used by the first team for warms etc.

Eric Myles
52 Posted 03/03/2025 at 13:48:53
Paul #15, I've long banged on about using Goodison to house The Everton Collection of Dr. France as a living museum that football fans from around the world can come to view, in the home of the city's originals

Isn't it somewhere in St. Georges Hall at the moment? And can it be viewed by the general public?

Martin #51, purchasing Nelson's Dock, etc is going to be just as expensive as maintaining Goodison, probably more so.

Danny O'Neill
53 Posted 03/03/2025 at 14:22:22
That's an interesting point Eric. There are pros and cons to both options for Dr David's collection there. Goodison for the historical connection, but St George's Hall for advertising the Everton brand in the city.

I'll say it for the last time. Flatten Goodison and build a small stadium down one end of the ground if feasible.

Martin, the last detail I read on the Goodison Legacy Project was that, under current plans, only the centre circle will be preserved. But, to be honest, I've not heard a lot recently.

Justin Doone
54 Posted 03/03/2025 at 16:13:58
I can completely understand TFG revisiting all previous plans as the Moshiri years were not short of a poor decision or several.
The club need to look longer term and keeping ownership of Goodison may prove beneficial in ways we can't yet imagine.
It may also make sense to have other Everton teams (womens, youth) playing nearer the fan base which may quickly increase average attendances etc.
Local schools, youth and community clubs could be given free tickets to further boost attendance.
The one thing I'm sure of is more money and bigger commercial deals will come into the women's game and wouldn't it be good to be able to take advantage of them.
Whilst I understand some fans not being particularly interested in the women's game, and I include myself in that, ignoring it or hating it makes no sense, especially if it can benefit the club and community.


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