Holy crap, I never saw this coming. Goodison Park—the spiritual home of Everton for 133 freaking years—isn't getting bulldozed after all!
This Sunday's going to be one hell of an emotional rollercoaster for Toffees fans as the men's team plays their final match at the grand old lady. I've got a mate who's been a season ticket holder for 22 years, and he texted me this morning: "Bringing extra tissues and probably won't be able to speak for days after." Poor guy.
The Plot Twist Nobody Expected
So here's the bombshell... while the men's team packs up for their fancy new £1billion playground at Bramley-Moore Dock next season, Goodison Park is getting a second life as the permanent home of Everton Women.
And let's be honest, this is massive.
Instead of becoming another victim of the wrecking ball (which was the original £82mil plan involving housing, a care home and all that jazz), the 39,572-capacity stadium will transform into what the club is calling "the most iconic venue in the Women's Super League."
From Tiny Park to Towering Cathedral
Think about this for a second—Everton Women currently play at Walton Hall Park. The jump to Goodison means they're moving to a stadium roughly 18 TIMES larger than their current home. That's not just an upgrade; that's like trading in your bicycle for a private jet.
The club's apparently planning to give the changing rooms a proper makeover and update teh exterior to properly reflect the women's team identity. About time, if you ask me.
Wait... Didn't Moshiri Just Say...?
The timing of this announcement is absolutely wild. Just yesterday, former owner Farhad Moshiri told Sky Sports he'd been given a 2028 deadline for Goodison to be demolished.
"My advisors told me that their estimate was by 2028, Goodison should be demolished," he said, before going on about how nobody wanted to leave but they had to for "infrastructural and financial" reasons.
Well, looks like the new owners—the Friedkin Group who completed their takeover earlier this year—had completely different ideas. (And thank god for that.)
Finnigan's Emotional Take
Everton Women's captain Megan Finnigan sounds like she's still pinching herself. "This move is a testament to where the women's game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading," she said.
"Leading the team out for that first home match of next season will be nothing short of a career highlight – and the prospect of what Everton Women can become with such an iconic ground to call our home is hugely exciting."
I met Finnigan at a charity event back in 2021... she struck me as someone who truly gets what it means to wear that blue shirt. Seeing her lead the team out at Goodison next season? That's gonna be special.
One Last Boozy Goodbye
The Premier League's actually relaxing their alcohol rules for Sunday's farewell match against already-relegated Southampton.
After the final whistle blows around 2pm, fans can buy drinks until 2:45pm and—get this—actually take them to their seats to watch the 'End of an Era' ceremony. That NEVER happens in English football these days.
I'm betting there won't be a dry eye (or empty glass) in the house.
Look, I've been covering football for almost 15 years now, adn I've seen plenty of historic grounds get reduced to rubble in the name of "progress." There's something beautifully poetic about Goodison being saved this way—continuing to serve the community while also elevating the women's game to new heights.
The Goodison Legacy project launched back in 2020 was meant to figure out what would happen after the men moved out. I don't think anyone imagined this outcome.
Sometimes the best solutions are the ones staring you right in the face.
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