Homepage Article Goodison Park to become the permanent home of Everton Women

[Tom Hughes]

Disagree. Any museum should be at the new stadium which is going to be a tourism honey pot. No way will serious numbers go out their way to Walton to see an Everton collection, never mind the Leich stands, which apart from a few older and sentimental people deem an attraction.

All of the history is at the old site, which already has a healthy number of visitors throughout the year. Including many visiting fans to the other lot who are already in the general area and not going out of their way. As yet, there hasn't been any space allocated to a museum at BMD..... even in the Hydraulic tower. The Leitch stands could be both exhibits and working stands at reduced capacity..... with historic importance and interest only increasing with time....... with the income from the Women's and Youth team games offering an additional revenue stream.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

I’m not saying they were, just answering the point in context. The idea that local businesses who were reliant on the income generated by 19-25 games with 40,000 attendees are going to be saved by 11-15 games with (very generously estimated) 10,000 people of an entirely different demographic is fanciful in the extreme. Regeneration of the area would clearly have been the better for those businesses, it’s disingenuous to pretend otherwise.

I'm really not sure what regeneration of that area looks like. It was left deliberately vague at concept because if we're all being honest, L4 isn't exactly high up on the priorities of developers.

Realistically it would've been sold for 3 odd million and a couple estates get added on, not exactly going to make businesses boom

 

[9LeagueTitles5FACups]

I am very much in favour of this, just as I was way back when the initial public consultation began on the move to Bramley-Moore Dock.

There is a real opportunity for us to crack the WSL and establish ourselves as one of the country's leading clubs - something which I think TFG recognises. Hopefully, this move will bring us one step closer to achieving that goal.

Also, it would be great to see academy matches being played there, as outlined in the plans. One thing young players need to adapt to is playing in large venues akin to what they would play in as Premier League players. I recall that some supporters were disappointed that the LCFA Senior Cup final (a competition we have now won 47 times) was not played at Goodison Park. Now, we have a high quality venue for events such as that.

It doesn't have to just be an Everton ground - we also have opportunities to open it up for community tournaments (I.e. local finals), meaning we can make a positive impression at grassroots level.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

All of the history is at the old site, which already has a healthy number of visitors throughout the year. Including many visiting fans to the other lot who are already in the general area and not going out of their way. As yet, there hasn't been any space allocated to a museum at BMD..... even in the Hydraulic tower. The Leitch stands could be both exhibits and working stands at reduced capacity..... with historic importance and interest only increasing with time....... with the income from the Women's and Youth team games offering an additional revenue stream.

This is news to me and an absolutely massive oversight. All of the new stadia have this built in for self guided tours for tourists. Practically runs itself, how has it been missed?

 

[witchdoc187]

Isn’t a forum a place for views to be expressed. I apologise its not then same as yours. Been an Everton since age 4 and STH for 18 years so think I can express an opinion.

Of course you can.. Nothing to do with me. Everyone is entitled to an opinion mate. Nothing wrong with disagreeing.

 

[mrsnugfit]

I'm a bit sceptical about this, maybe they've simply decided there is no rush. On the face of it - good news. But I guess 'permanent' is more likely a 'trial period'. I think long-term the men and womens teams of all clubs will play in the same stadiums as each other in any case.

It is now up to you though....yes YOU because there is no way TFG or anyone else are going to keep an old stadium on life support and making a loss (despite the 'blurb' of it being a hub), when it is used only HALF the amount times as it was when the men played there and with only 10-15% of the capacity in attendance for that handful of times.

 

[JLW]

Doesnt this kinda dilute the goodbye for this weekend.

Like this is the last time you will ever step foot in here and all the emotions that are going with it, and now you can still go to watch to watch Everton (womens)

For me its a little bit weird the timing of the announcement.

 

[maccavennie]

Doesnt this kinda dilute the goodbye for this weekend.

Like this is the last time you will ever step foot in here and all the emotions that are going with it, and now you can still go to watch to watch Everton (womens)

For me its a little bit weird the timing of the announcement.

No mate I don't think so. Sunday is a massive chapter that is closing. Goodison as we know it watching the Men's team will be no more.

This is the stadiums next stage of life, a new chapter and a new beginning. I can 100% separate the 2 things because I'm absolutely gutted I can't be there on Sunday and I don't think I'm going to cope very well with that tbh. But I can look forward to seeing the stadium have a different kind of lease of life, knowing I can get back there again I'm just absolutely buzzing with that.

 

[Bedfordblue]

As Everton fans, we’ve braced ourselves for the emotional rollercoaster of saying goodbye to Goodison Park. The tributes, the nostalgia, the “last dance” talk—it’s all been powerful. But here’s the thing, it’s not really goodbye is it?
While the men’s team moves to shiny new digs, we now know Everton Women will be moving in to Goodison full-time —the old lady isn’t retiring, she’s just changing tenants.
Rather than treating Goodison Park as history, it should be seen as the foundation for a progressive future in women’s football, marking a significant step toward equality and recognition.

 

[everton1953]

Doesnt this kinda dilute the goodbye for this weekend.

Like this is the last time you will ever step foot in here and all the emotions that are going with it, and now you can still go to watch to watch Everton (womens)

For me its a little bit weird the timing of the announcement.

Disagree. I believe there are very few fans who will continue attending GP. I reckon the owners are playing a wait and see game. If the women's game really takes off with Chelsea size attendances then great. If not then ........who knows?

 

[Davideeyore]

An all standing Gwladys End maybe? We could also knock down one of the stands (the Bullens Road maybe?) And turn it into an overnight hub/hotel. I'd imagine that a lot of people (not even just blues) would love to spend a few nights with a hotel room that had a view of the Goodison pitch!

The Bullens should be preserved. It's literally a historical time piece for football stadium architecture - from 100 years ago and in particular, it a rare surviving Archibald Leitch stand.

It might not be as majestic as the old Goodison Road stand nicknamed the Mauritainia after the Liverpool ship (like the Titanic) due to its size, but it should be preserved. Just like art deco, or Georgian buildings etc.

Marvel at its architecture.

 

[Infernus]

The media types are definitely highlighting the PSR benefits of this decision.

 

[summerisle]

I would hazard a guess that a majority on here are male, here's another viewpoint :

 

[BullensRoad]

All of the history is at the old site, which already has a healthy number of visitors throughout the year. Including many visiting fans to the other lot who are already in the general area and not going out of their way. As yet, there hasn't been any space allocated to a museum at BMD..... even in the Hydraulic tower. The Leitch stands could be both exhibits and working stands at reduced capacity..... with historic importance and interest only increasing with time....... with the income from the Women's and Youth team games offering an additional revenue stream.

I think your emotional sentiment clouds your judgement. They're definitely just using goodison until they know what to do with it, the money for the legacy project went.

In no way is keeping goodison a viable financial solution unless they knock down the older stands.

You need to let go and look forward to the future.

 

[jazzy]

All of the history is at the old site, which already has a healthy number of visitors throughout the year. Including many visiting fans to the other lot who are already in the general area and not going out of their way. As yet, there hasn't been any space allocated to a museum at BMD..... even in the Hydraulic tower. The Leitch stands could be both exhibits and working stands at reduced capacity..... with historic importance and interest only increasing with time....... with the income from the Women's and Youth team games offering an additional revenue stream.

I love that idea Tom