The club have decided to retain the historic ground as a football stadium, central to its charity work in the area
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View North up Goodison Road with possible EitC building as part of the Goodison Park Legacy project
View North up Goodison Road with possible EitC building as part of the Goodison Park Legacy project
(Image: Everton FC)
The future of Goodison Park was confirmed this week as Everton announced it will become the permanent home of their women's side. The men's team will play their final match at their home of 133 years on Sunday as they face Southampton in what promises to be an emotional day for everyone connected with the club.
But the ground will live on as a footballing venue. It is a change of plans, which would have seen demolition at the ground, as part of the Goodison Legacy Project - Everton's plans to reimagine the L4 site through a number of new developments.
This week's decision follows an in-depth review of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group (TFG) since their takeover in December. It ensures a new lease of life for the Grand Old Lady beyond Sunday’s game which had been anticipated to be the final match in its storied history.
The full plans for the Goodison Legacy Project were unveiled in 2019. The demolition of Goodison would have made way for a development comprising a number of buildings, features and services, with charity Everton in the Community expected to play a role.
A mix of housing and apartments was proposed, which would have created a choice in housing size, type and tenure. Up to 48 houses and up to 160 apartments were considered as part of the project.
The plans also included a youth enterprise zone, education zone, health zone, supported living, retail and leisure spaces, office space and green space.
Designs of the Goodison Legacy Project
Designs of the Goodison Legacy Project(Image: Everton FC)
Outline planning permission for the project was sought in April 2020 and it was approved a year later. However, the plans have now changed and there will be no demolition.
Goodison Park will now be at the centre of a reimagined future for the club in the area, once the men's team depart on Sunday. Everton Women will move from the nearby Walton Hall Park for the start of next season.
While the venue will continue to host football, and while no demolition work is currently planned, the site is expected to be developed over the coming years. Seating arrangements may be reconfigured after the club completes the sale of seats to season ticket holders, a process currently underway.
The dressing rooms will need to be overhauled and the concourses will be improved as part of what the club plans to be an evolution of the stadium as it is adapted to Everton Women.
New Everton CEO Angus Kinnear said: “This decision honours Everton’s rich history while looking firmly to the future. It reflects our commitment to women’s football and ensures that a beloved stadium continues to inspire the next generation of Blues.”
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
The ECHO understands that Everton will now use the wider Goodison footprint to allow Everton in the Community and Everton Free School to expand its work - which had been a key aspect of the 2019 plans.
Walton Hall Park is also expected to be used for a number of grassroots, community and development football initiatives, working with Everton in the Community and Everton Free School a range of programmes.
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson welcomed the decision to retain Goodison as a football ground. Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside earlier this week, he said the move would work for all parties.
He said: “This is wonderful news. This city’s famous for having two cathedrals, I think we can now arguably say we’ve got three cathedrals of world football with Anfield, Goodison remaining and now Bramley-Moore Dock.
“I think it’s going to be brilliant for the women’s game, it will be the biggest dedicated women’s stadium within the Women’s Super League (WSL), I think it’ll be the away day every WSL player and away fan will be looking forward to, but actually the best news around this is it gives some really good, long-term certainty to County Road and the community around County Road in Walton.”