Everton unveils vision for Goodison Park on Everton Women’s matchday

As Everton Football Club prepares for its next chapter with the men’s team set to relocate to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, a landmark decision has been made that secures the future of Goodison Park and reinforces the Club’s long-standing commitment to the women’s game.

The Club has officially confirmed that, following the men’s move, Goodison Park will become the dedicated home of Everton Women. This long-term vision ensures that the iconic stadium will continue to serve both football and the local community, while also playing a vital role in the development of the women’s game.

This announcement is made all the more significant when considered through the lens of Goodison Park’s historical importance to women’s football. On 27 December 1920, the stadium hosted one of the most notable events in the sport’s early history—a Boxing Day match between the trailblazing Dick, Kerr Ladies and St. Helens Ladies. The fixture drew an official crowd of more than 45,000, with thousands more unable to gain entry.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies, a team formed of munitions factory workers from the North West, were among the most prominent women’s teams of the era. They featured renowned figures such as Lily Parr, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of her generation, as well as Alice Kell and Florrie Redford. That day, the Dick, Kerr side triumphed 4-0 and raised £3,100 (equivalent to approximately £130,000 in 2025) for servicemen’s charities.

Such was the scale of public interest that the Lord Mayor of Liverpool attended the match, and police escorts were required to navigate the crowds lining Goodison Road. However, despite the match’s success and growing popularity of the women’s game, the Football Association imposed a ban on women playing on affiliated pitches just months later—a restriction that lasted for five decades.

Now, more than 100 years later, Everton Football Club is restoring Goodison Park’s role as a home for women’s football, marking a momentous return to a venue steeped in both history and symbolism.

Richie Gillham, Secretary of the Everton FC Heritage Society and Member of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, said:

“This is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about building a legacy. Everton Women will now have a permanent base to grow and thrive, and to do it at a ground with such historical significance is incredibly special for all Evertonians.

“The women that graced Goodison Park that represented both Dick, Kerr Ladies and St Helens weren’t just footballers, they were pioneers. At a time when society placed strict limits on what women could do, these players challenged the boundaries and captured the imagination of huge crowds up and down the country.

“Evertonians have a saying of ‘if you know your history’, that is why it is fitting and deeply meaningful that the very same ground that held the record attendance for a women’s fixture for so many years will now become home to Everton Women and they will now have the honour of inspiring the next generation.”

The Club’s regeneration plans will retain the character and heritage of Goodison Park while transforming it into a world-class venue for Everton Women. Located in the heart of Liverpool 4, the stadium’s continued use as a competitive home ground will provide supporters with an opportunity to be part of an exciting new era at one of football’s most iconic sites.

From the pioneering players of 1920 to the current generation of elite athletes, Goodison Park is once again poised to play a defining role in the growth and celebration of women’s football—with Everton Women at its core.

Find more information on the Everton FC website.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here. 

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.