Everton Women’s Team to Move to Goodison Park in Historic Move
In a groundbreaking move, Everton’s women’s team is set to make the switch to Goodison Park, the club’s iconic home stadium, after playing at Walton Hall Park since 2020. According to a report from the BBC, the team will make the historic move to Goodison Park, a stadium with a rich history in English football.
The news has been met with widespread excitement among fans and former players, who see the move as a major step forward for the women’s team. Everton’s women’s team has a storied history, having won a league title in 1998, two domestic cups in the late 2010s, and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2011. However, under previous owner Farhad Moshiri, the team underwent a gradual decline in performance, finishing no higher than fifth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and ending this season’s campaign in eighth.
The move to Goodison Park is seen as a significant boost to the team’s fortunes, with the stadium offering a much larger capacity than Walton Hall Park. While Walton Hall Park has a capacity of 2,200, only 500 of those places are seated, and its pitch is a hybrid of real and artificial grass. In contrast, Goodison Park is one of the most iconic stadiums in English football, with a rich history and a loyal fanbase.
The BBC reports that Everton plan to improve Goodison Park’s changing room facilities, and rebrand the exterior of the stadium to reflect the women’s team’s history and current squad. Meanwhile, Walton Hall Park will continue to be used to offer a space for grassroots football in Liverpool, predominantly in the girls’ game.
Julie Clarke, secretary of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m beyond thrilled for the women’s team. Men’s teams think Goodison is one the hardest grounds to go to, so hopefully that can become the case for the women’s team. It’s a huge commitment from our new owners. They wasted no time and spotted this opportunity. We’ve always said that Everton is more than a club, it’s a community.”
The move has also been welcomed by former Everton and England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis, who told the BBC: “It is fabulous news. The women’s team including myself have played at Marine Football Club, we’ve played at Widnes Rugby League, we’ve played at lots of different homes but they have never felt like homes. It feels like this is Everton Women coming home.”
The decision to move the women’s team to Goodison Park is seen as a significant investment in the team and in women’s football more broadly. As the BBC notes, the move is a testament to the commitment of Everton’s new owners to the club and to the community. As Julie Clarke noted, “The easy option would have been to sell up the land and make a profit. But they’ve done the right thing by continuing to invest in the community.”
The move to Goodison Park is set to have a significant impact on the women’s team, providing a much larger and more iconic home stadium. As the team looks to rebuild and regain its former glory, the move is seen as a major step forward. With Goodison Park as their new home, Everton’s women’s team is set to take women’s football to new heights.
Everton’s women’s team averaged an attendance of 2,062 at Walton Hall Park this season. The team will look to build on this and attract a larger following at Goodison Park. The stadium’s larger capacity and iconic status are set to provide a significant boost to the team’s profile and fortunes.
In a statement, the club said that they are committed to supporting the women’s team and to providing a world-class home stadium for the team to play in. The move to Goodison Park is seen as a significant step forward for the team and for women’s football more broadly, and is set to have a lasting impact on the sport.
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