From Anfield to Goodison: The Birth of a Historic Stadium
Not many football stories begin with a landlord dispute, but that’s exactly how Goodison Park came to life. In the early 1890s, Everton played at Anfield. A disagreement over rent with John Houlding, the club’s landlord, forced Everton to look for a new home. Rather than back down, the Blues made a bold move, they found a new plot of land at Mere Green and built a stadium of their own.
On September 2, 1892, Everton played their first match at Goodison, defeating Bolton Wanderers 4–2 in a friendly. It was a ground built for football and nothing else, making it one of the first purpose-built stadiums in the country. From that day on, the name Goodison Park became part of English football history.
And of course, that split gave birth to a fierce rivalry. When Everton left, Houlding formed a new club to occupy Anfield a team we know today as Liverpool FC.
A Stadium of Firsts and Innovations
Goodison didn’t just host football – it shaped it. Over the decades, it became known as a stadium of “firsts.”
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In 1894, Goodison hosted the FA Cup Final, the first time the competition left London.
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By the 1930s, it was the first English ground to have double-decker stands on all four sides, a sign of its ambition and stature.
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Goodison pioneered the idea of dugouts a small innovation that spread across the footballing world.
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In 1957, the ground staged the first-ever floodlit league match in England. A year later, undersoil heating was installed to keep the pitch playable through winter.
These weren’t small changes; they were game-changers. Goodison became not just Everton’s home, but a benchmark for stadium design across Britain.
Iconic Moments and Matches at Goodison Park
Every football fan can name a moment at Goodison that gave them goosebumps.
In 1928, Dixie Dean scored his record-breaking 60th league goal in a single season here a record that still stands nearly a century later. In 1966, the world watched Goodison during the World Cup, including the unforgettable match where Portugal, inspired by Eusebio, came back from 0–3 down to beat North Korea 5–3.
For Evertonians, the list of memories runs even deeper:
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The 1985 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich, when Goodison roared so loudly that Bayern players later admitted they’d never experienced an atmosphere like it.
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Unforgettable derby wins against Liverpool that shook the old stands.
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European nights, cup glories, and last-minute winners that turned Goodison into a cauldron of noise.
Goodison wasn’t just a ground; it was a stage for football drama that left its mark on the game itself.
Legends, Traditions, and the Goodison Atmosphere
Ask any player or supporter what makes Goodison special, and most will give the same answer: the atmosphere.
The “Goodison Roar” is famous that thunderous sound when the Gwladys Street urged the Blues forward. Countless managers and players have said the noise could lift Everton to another level and shake even the strongest opponents.
Traditions made the ground unique, too. The Z-Cars theme still echoed every time the team walked out, a ritual that never failed to raise goosebumps. The Toffee Lady, handing out Everton mints to the crowd in years gone by, gave the club its sweet nickname. And who can forget the sight of St. Luke’s Church, standing proudly in the corner of the ground, a reminder of how deeply rooted Everton is in its community.
And then there are the legends: Dixie Dean, Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, Neville Southall, Duncan Ferguson — names written into Goodison’s fabric. For many fans, memories of these players aren’t just statistics or trophies; they’re moments shared in the stands with family and friends.
End of an Era: Everton’s Final Game at Goodison
On 18 May 2025, Everton played their last ever match at Goodison Park — a 2–0 victory over Southampton that was as much about emotion as it was about football. After the final whistle, thousands stayed behind for a farewell ceremony that blended pride, sadness, and celebration. Former legends returned to the pitch, fans sang Z-Cars one last time, and the entire Everton family said goodbye to the Grand Old Lady.
It was more than just a match; it was the closing chapter of 132 years of history. Many supporters left with tears in their eyes, knowing they had witnessed something that would never happen again.
Now, the focus turns to the club’s future at Bramley-Moore Dock, a modern stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront. It promises to carry Everton forward, but for many, no place will ever compare to Goodison.
Keeping the Goodison Spirit Alive: Memories & Memorabilia
Since May, fans have been finding ways to keep the memory of Goodison alive. Some saved their ticket stubs from that final game, others framed old photos of their first trip to Gwladys Street. And many have turned to artwork and memorabilia to bring a little piece of Goodison into their homes.
One of the most popular ways is through a retro Everton poster. For example:
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The Goodison Park Inside Retro Vintage Poster beautifully captures the atmosphere from inside the ground, with the Gwladys Street End alive in all its glory.
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The Goodison Park Outside Retro Vintage Poster shows the approach every fan knows so well walking through the terraced streets towards the stadium’s famous facade.
These prints aren’t just wall art. They’re daily reminders of what it felt like to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Blues, to hear the Goodison Roar, and to be part of a football family that stretches back generations.
Conclusion
For 132 years, Goodison Park wasn’t just where Everton played football — it was where life happened. It was where grandfathers told their grandkids about Dixie Dean, where European nights shook the stands, and where friendships and families were bound together by the Blues.
The final whistle on May 18, 2025, closed an extraordinary chapter, but it didn’t end Goodison’s story. Its spirit lives on in our memories, in our songs, and in the keepsakes that remind us what it meant to be there.
Whether it’s a scarf tucked away, a ticket stub on the mantelpiece, or a framed Everton poster on the wall, the Grand Old Lady will always have a place in our homes and in our hearts.