Ashley Young gives his honest verdict on Everton’s new stadium after going to visit

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Everton have seldom been outside of the limelight this season, given they have once again been embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

However, to add to the intrigue has been an ongoing takeover saga which still drags on, as well as PSR drama which has seen them deducted points on two different occasions.

The media have unsurprisingly lapped this all up, but were left rather red-faced over the weekend as their relegation blockbuster with Luton Town was somewhat ruined by the Toffees earning survival just a week earlier.

Likely because of this, Ashley Young felt comfortable enough to wade into punditry for a night, and seemed to say all the right things about Everton when asked.

Ashley Young on Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium

Making his debut on Monday Night Football, Young was a fine addition to the Sky Sports show alongside Jamie Carragher as they unpicked the devastating defeat of his former side at Crystal Palace.

Manchester United were abysmal, and deservedly ran out 4-0 losers.

Fortunately, once attention returned to his current employers, the positivity returned somewhat.

In fact, when asked about the overwhelming factor that is driving such a newfound upbeat energy at Everton, he cited the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and the anticipation the move is provoking.

He told Sky Sports last night: ‘Quite a few of us have been to see the stadium. Like you say, you can see, you can feel how big the club actually is and where the club wants to get to.

‘With the new stadium, with like I say the manager, with how Kev [Thelwell] the sporting director has been there as well. They’ve all been fantastic for Everton Football Club. The players… there’s some fantastic players there.’ 

Players could stay just to play in Everton’s new stadium

Not only will this new stadium provide untold new commercial opportunities for Everton to benefit from and hopefully solve their financial crisis, but it has clearly got the players excited too.

But that should come as no surprise.

After all, this brand-new arena has been designed and constructed with the atmosphere at the forefront, and as such the home side is sure to be backed ferociously every single game they play there.

The tightness to the pitch and the various other architectural feats, including a specially designed bowl to amplify noise and particularly steep stands, will all combine to enhance the experience for all those involved.

Surely, if Sean Dyche’s men are backed by a bolstered home crowd with an extra 12,000 there to cheer them on, there will be little opportunity for them to shirk their responsibilities.

That pressure is a privilege, and with Young, Jarrad Branthwaite and clearly many more having already scampered to visit it, the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium seems set to be a selling point to more than just new fans or wealthy investors.