Goodison Park, one of the UK’s most iconic football stadiums, has been saved from demolition and is set to become the first major stadium in the country dedicated solely to a women’s team. Starting next season, Everton Women will make the historic ground their new home, marking a transformative moment for women’s football in England.
The decision to preserve Goodison Park comes just as Everton’s men’s team prepares to move into a new 52,888-seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. While the men’s side will play their final Premier League fixture at Goodison this weekend, the future of the stadium now lies in the women’s game. Everton Women will begin their tenure at the ground in September, 133 years after the first men’s match was played there.
This development has been described as a major step forward for women’s football, with the club’s owners positioning Goodison as a long-term home designed to elevate the women’s game. The vision is to make it one of the most distinctive and respected venues in European women’s football.
Goodison Park’s transformation into a women’s football hub comes with a rich historical resonance. More than a century ago, the stadium hosted a landmark women’s match between Dick, Kerr Ladies and St Helens Ladies, which for 103 years held the attendance record for a women’s game. The return of top-level women’s football to the same venue is seen as a full-circle moment, celebrating both heritage and progress.
The move from Walton Hall Park, which currently holds just over 2,000 spectators, offers a significant opportunity to grow attendances and increase visibility for the women’s team. The Women’s Super League is on track to draw over a million spectators this season, with audiences more than doubling in recent years. With more than half of WSL attendees under 40, the club sees this as a chance to build lifelong support and community connection through a venue already deeply cherished by fans.
Goodison’s capacity will be significantly reduced from its current 39,000, with the upper tiers of the stands expected to be decommissioned. Season ticket holders will be offered the chance to retain their seats as a keepsake. While the stadium will undergo adaptations to better suit the women’s game, major structural changes are not expected in the immediate future. Targeted investments will be made to improve the experience for fans and players, ensuring compliance with league standards.
Plans previously proposed by former club leadership to demolish Goodison in favour of a mixed-use redevelopment project featuring housing, shops, and healthcare facilities have now been shelved. Instead, the club’s charitable arm will maintain a presence at the site. Community programmes focused on youth development and girls’ football will be supported from within the ground, reinforcing its role as a pillar of the local area.
For many supporters and community members, the decision to preserve and repurpose Goodison Park reflects a commitment to history, identity, and inclusion. With its legacy intact and a new purpose ahead, the ground is poised to inspire a new generation of players and fans alike.
