Everton men's first team said goodbye to Goodison Park after 133 years in May this year
A conceptual image of how Goodison Park could look as the home of Everton Women
A conceptual image of how Goodison Park could look as the home of Everton Women
(Image: Everton FC)
Around £1 million is being spent to make Goodison Park into a specialist women’s football stadium, according to the man overseeing Everton’s transition between its grounds. In May, the men’s first team said goodbye to L4 after 133 years at their second home in the city.
It had been widely expected that following their 2,791st fixture, the lights would go out on the Grand Old Lady for the final time. However, just weeks before that penultimate match of the 2024/25 season, it was confirmed the women’s team would call the ground home from August.
The decision follows an in-depth review of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group (TFG) since their takeover in December. Colin Chong, Everton stadium development director, told a panel at the Local Government Association (LGA) conference at the ACC Liverpool how a six-figure sum was being spent to convert the ground into a specialist women’s stadium.
The move to install the women’s team in L4 addresses Everton Women’s need for a larger, more suitable venue than Walton Hall Park.
Phase one of the transition will include stadium upgrades to enhance the match day experience and ensure adequate facilities are in place before the start of the season.
Goodison Park, home of Everton since 1892
Goodison Park, home of Everton since 1892
After a deal was agreed in 2019, the Blues played their league and cup games just a stone’s throw from their new home. The move from Southport to Walton came about through a licence agreement struck between the Toffees and the local authority.
The relocation will also generate economic opportunities for local businesses through matchday footfall. Mr Chong said the club had intentions to invest in Goodison “over a period of time” and would seek external investment to do so to the tune of “tens of millions of pounds.”
He said around £1 million was being used to get the ground ready for women’s fixtures for the start of the new season.
The former interim chief executive said it also meant it would keep the region around County Road “in good stead” adding: “Goodison Park has a new lease of life.”
Interim chief executive Colin Chong and new executive chairman Marc Watts during the match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on December 22, 2024
Colin Chong and new executive chairman Marc Watts during the match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on December 22, 2024
Everton released designs that show how Goodison could look on a matchday moving forward from next season. The images show the lower tiers of the stadium full on all four sides, with the upper tiers covered in branding.
In a statement, the Blues say the decision should help to "create an intimate, atmospheric arena."
Mr Chong said the club hopes Goodison can become a centre of excellence for women’s football, adding how the Blues’ charity arm - Everton in the Community - would also operate out of the historic stadium moving forward.
Goodison Park has a storied history, having hosted more top-flight games than any other stadium in England over its 133-year history. It hosted the FA Cup final - between Notts County and Bolton Wanderers - in 1894.