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A picture from the Goodbye to Goodison exhibition
A picture from the Goodbye to Goodison exhibition opening this weekend
(Image: Photo by Ste Currie)
Everton will soon say goodbye to Goodison Park as the Toffees play out their final few matches before moving to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The Blues, who have called Goodison Park home since 1892, will move to the new 52,888 capacity stadium for the start of the 2025/26 season.
Through the decades, so many incredible memories have been made and photographed at Goodison Park, capturing not only the team but the fans who have been at the heart of it all. As the club moves into the next chapter of its rich history, fans are savouring the final moments in one of the country’s last great football stadiums.
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Goodison Park’s final season as home to EFC is being documented from a fan’s perspective, through a new photo display at Museum of Liverpool. Featuring nine photographers from the club’s fanbase, Goodbye to Goodison is a love letter to the home stadium of Everton Football Club in its final season, offering a closer look at the relationship between this iconic ground and the loyal fans who congregate around the stadium.
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The photos selected highlight matchdays away from the Premier League glamour - the chippies, pubs, meeting places and family moments shared during the final season. And ahead of opening to the public this weekend on Saturday, April 5, the ECHO was given a preview of the display.
Inside, the Museum of Liverpool staff also gave a nod to the Toffees, briefly changing their name to the 'Museum of Everton' with a blue banner. On the second floor, visitors can be transported to Goodison Park with incredible moments from around the ground.
Goodbye to Goodison Photo exhibition at Museum of Liverpool
The museum becomes the 'Museum of Everton'(Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Inside Chris Wardle, co-curator and contributor to Goodbye to Goodison, told the ECHO how important it is for the club, fans and the city to celebrate this chapter in Everton FC's history. Chris, 36, said: "It's the second time a football club has moved a ground in Liverpool.
"The last time was when Everton moved from Anfield to Goodison Park - so it's a huge moment in the city's history. Being able to capture that and being able to capture that from a slightly different angle has been quite fun.
The Goodbye Goodison display will run from April 5
The Goodbye Goodison display will run from Saturday, April 5(Image: Photo by Lewis Guy)
"I've been asked what I'll miss the most and it's the fans - that kind of buzz around the ground before the game. That is Goodison to me - walking around the ground and just feeling the atmosphere and seeing people meet up, people going into St Luke's Church to check out the photo displays there and the heritage society, the fan zone.
"That atmosphere around the ground is special and you do get that at every ground but it's ours Goodison and that's an important part for me." To mark the final game, museum curators will also select an image taken from the final game of the season, capturing the emotion and importance of the final game at The Grand Old Lady.
Goodbye to Goodison Photo exhibition at Museum of Liverpool pictured photographers Lewis Guy, Laura Gates and Chris Wardle
Goodbye to Goodison Photo exhibition at Museum of Liverpool. Pictured, photographers Lewis Guy, Laura Gates and Chris Wardle
Karen O’Rourke, curator for sport, music and performance at Museum of Liverpool, previously said: "Leaving a space for an image from the final game at Goodison Park seems like an important thing to do. We are hoping the photographers involved can capture the emotion that will no doubt overflow before and after the last game.
"The display pays tribute to a landmark of the city, before the club moves to its new ground on the banks of the River Mersey.” Goodbye to Goodison opens in Museum of Liverpool’s Skylight Gallery this weekend on Saturday, April 5, and runs until September 21.
On Thursdays throughout the run of the display, visitors will be able to see additional images from the photographers and share their own memories and experiences of going to the match. Running alongside the display, the museum will release an episode of the NML Podcast talking with staff, ex-players, ex-managers and other important figures who know Goodison Park best. Online a wider selection of photos from around the ground will be available to view.
For more information on Goodbye to Goodison, the photographers and special events, click here.