LIVERPOOL — Everton Football Club is set to breathe new life into one of English football’s oldest cathedrals.
Goodison Park, home to the Toffees for over 130 years, will become the new base for Everton’s women’s team, the club announced on Tuesday. The decision comes as the men’s team prepares to leave the historic ground for a modern £500 million arena at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Southampton will mark the end of an era for the men’s side at Goodison. But rather than tear it down or redevelop it for housing and retail, as previous plans suggested, Everton’s new ownership has opted to preserve the stadium—and hand it to the women.
“This move is a testament to where the women’s game is right now and, more importantly, where it’s heading,” said Megan Finnigan, captain of Everton Women. “Goodison is a magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.”
It’s a bold shift for the club. The women’s team currently plays at Walton Hall Park, a modest venue just a mile away with a capacity of around 2,200. Last season, average attendances stood at 2,062. By contrast, Goodison seats nearly 40,000, making it the largest stadium dedicated solely to a women’s team in England.
Angus Kinnear, Everton’s chief executive, described the decision as part of a wider legacy project.
“We know how treasured Goodison is—not only to every Evertonian but to the game itself,” he said. “Keeping such an iconic stadium alive has been incredibly important to us. The women’s game has grown significantly, and we believe that growth will continue.”
The move comes after The Friedkin Group took over Everton in December. Under previous leadership, plans were already in place to convert Goodison Park into a mixed-use development with housing, a care home, shops and green space. But the new ownership reversed course.
“We’re under no illusions,” Kinnear added. “There are obstacles to overcome—both practical and financial—but we’re confident we’ll find a way forward.”
The club has not yet released full details about how the transition will be managed, nor the cost of refurbishing Goodison to suit the women’s side and youth teams, which will also use the ground.
What’s clear is that the decision lands at a time when women’s football in the UK is seeing unprecedented attention and investment. The FA Women’s Super League continues to draw record crowds, with clubs increasingly playing matches at their main stadiums. But dedicating a historic venue like Goodison entirely to a women’s team is, for now, without precedent.
Supporters have responded warmly.
“This is more than just about football,” said lifelong Everton fan Marie Cook, 52, outside the stadium on Tuesday morning. “It’s about pride and giving the women a proper platform. Goodison stays in the family. That matters.”
With the men’s team moving on and the women stepping in, Everton is turning the page on its past—while ensuring the soul of the club stays rooted in the blue brick of Goodison Road.
