Everton Retain Goodison Park for Women’s Team in Landmark Legacy Decision | OneFootball

Goodison Park to Host Everton Women in Bold Commitment to Future

Stadium Legacy Preserved in Vision for Women’s Game

There are few grounds in English football as emotionally resonant as Goodison Park. Echoing with 132 years of history, the old stadium has stood as a beacon of pride for Evertonians. Now, as the men’s team prepares to relocate to the new 53,000-seater arena at Bramley-Moore Dock, Goodison Park will remain more than just a memory. It will become a new home – for Everton’s Women.

In a landmark decision, Everton have scrapped previous plans for post-demolition redevelopment of the stadium site, which was expected to include housing, retail units, and a care facility. Instead, under the ownership of The Friedkin Group, the club has reimagined Goodison’s purpose – to provide Everton Women with the largest dedicated women’s football stadium in the country, at 39,572 capacity.

“This long-term vision reflects the club’s commitment to investing in the women’s game and ensuring that Goodison Park continues to play a vital role in both football and the community,” said an official club statement.

Statement of Intent from New Owners

The move is more than symbolic. It is strategic. By repurposing a Premier League-era venue for women’s football, Everton are not only preserving the stadium’s soul but asserting their ambition to elevate the women’s game.

“The ambition is to create a team capable of challenging for honours – backed by high-quality facilities and a world-renowned home,” the club added.

Chief Executive Angus Kinnear underscored this sentiment: “We know how treasured Goodison is, not only to every Evertonian, but to the game itself, and being able to keep such an iconic stadium at the heart of the legacy project is something that has been incredibly important to us.”

Photo: IMAGO

New Chapter for Team with Rich Heritage

Once a force in English women’s football, Everton Women have endured a period of stagnation in recent years. League title winners in 1998, Champions League quarter-finalists in 2011 – those peaks have since faded, with the club finishing no higher than fifth during Farhad Moshiri’s ownership. They ended this past Women’s Super League campaign in eighth place, drawing an average attendance of just 2,062 at Walton Hall Park – a 2,200-capacity ground.

Supporters and former players alike believe this move marks a turning point. “It feels like this is Everton Women coming home,” said former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis. “We’ve played at lots of different homes but they have never felt like homes.”

Julie Clarke, secretary of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, echoed those sentiments: “We’re not going to fill up a 40,000 capacity stadium immediately. But now, however big women’s football gets in England, Everton will be ready for it in an iconic ground.”

Wider Impact Across Club and Community

As part of the broader regeneration plan, Walton Hall Park will continue to be used for grassroots football, particularly in the girls’ game. Meanwhile, Goodison Park will host select academy fixtures, with the club’s U21s set to move back after ending their groundshare with Southport’s Haig Avenue.

BBC Sport reports that plans are underway to upgrade changing facilities and rebrand Goodison’s exterior to reflect the women’s team’s heritage and aspirations. The vision is one of inclusion and growth – built on foundations of identity, legacy, and a tangible sense of place.