Stadium

History of the stadium:

Goodison Park is the home stadium of Everton Football Club, located in the Walton district of Liverpool, England.

Built-in 1892, it is one of the oldest purpose-built football stadiums in the world and has been the site of many historic matches and moments in English football.

The history of Goodison Park dates back to the early 1890s when Everton was looking for a new home ground after outgrowing its previous stadium, Anfield. The club purchased land in the Walton district of Liverpool and began construction on a new stadium. This would become Goodison Park.

The stadium was designed by architect Archibald Leitch and was officially opened on August 24, 1892. A friendly match between Everton and Bolton Wanderers was the first fixture to be played there.

The original capacity of the stadium was around 12,000, and it featured a unique two-tier stand that was a marvel of engineering at the time.

Goodison gets bigger

Over the years, Goodison Park has undergone several renovations and expansions to keep up with the changing needs of Everton and modern football.

In 1906, the stadium’s capacity was expanded to over 50,000 with the addition of a new stand. Further expansions followed in the 1920s and 1930s.

One of the most significant changes to Goodison Park came in the 1970s when the stadium was transformed into an all-seater venue in response to safety concerns. This involved removing the terraces and replacing them with individual seats, which reduced the stadium’s capacity to around 40,000.

Despite its age, Goodison Park has remained an iconic and beloved venue for Everton fans over the years and has hosted many memorable matches and moments.

The stadium has also undergone numerous improvements and upgrades to keep it up to modern standards, including the installation of floodlights in 1957, a new roof for the Gwladys Street Stand in the 1980s, and a new scoreboard and video screen in 1996.

Plans for the future

However, in recent years, the limitations of Goodison Park have become increasingly apparent, and Everton has started building a new stadium. In 2019, the club announced plans to build a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool, which would have a capacity of around 52,000 and feature state-of-the-art facilities. It is to be opened in 2024.

The move to a new stadium will mark the end of an era for Goodison Park, which has been an integral part of Everton’s history and identity for over a century. However, the club’s supporters will always have fond memories of the stadium and the many historic moments that have taken place within its walls.

How to get to Goodison Park:

Here are some of the ways to get to the stadium:

By Car:

Goodison Park is easily accessible by car, with the stadium located just off the A580, also known as Walton Lane. There are several car parks available near the stadium. These include the Stanley Park car park, which is located adjacent to the stadium.

By Public Transport:

Goodison Park is well-served by public transport, with several bus and train routes running close to the stadium. The nearest train station is Kirkdale, which is served by trains from Liverpool Lime Street station. From Kirkdale, it is a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium.

Several bus routes also serve the stadium, including the 19, 20, 21, 52, and 53. These routes stop at various points around the stadium, and fans can check the Merseytravel website for timetables and route information.

By Bicycle or Walking: Goodison Park is located in a residential area, and fans can easily walk or cycle to the stadium if they live nearby. There are also several cycle paths and walking routes that lead to the stadium, and fans can check Google Maps or other mapping services for the best routes.

Stadium tour and museum info:

The Goodison Park stadium tour provides fans with an opportunity to see behind the scenes of Everton Football Club’s historic stadium.

The tour includes a visit to the home dressing room, pitchside, the media suite, and other areas of the stadium. Tours are available on select dates and last around 60-90 minutes.

Address:

Goodison Park: Goodison Rd, Liverpool L4 4EL