After Beginning Life at Anfield, the Toffees Have Turned Goodison Park into a Famous, Fearsome Home
By Dan Stelly | Photo via Pete
Tenants: Everton
Location: Liverpool, England
Capacity: 39,572
Opened: 1892
Many years before Goodison Park earned its reputation as one of England’s most raucous grounds, Everton called another venue home: Anfield. The Toffees opened the ground with a win over Earlestown in 1884 and went on to play at Liverpool’s current home for eight years, until internal arguments and increased rent pushed Everton to construct their own stadium half a mile away.
Since 1892, Goodison has seen the Toffees lift 15 major honors and rack up up 40 home wins over Liverpool, their former stadium-mates. Everton’s golden spells in the 1960s and mid-80s were particular highlights. The ground has also played host to a steady stream of international matches including five games during the 1966 World Cup, most notably Portugal’s famous 5–3 win over North Korea. Still, few sights are better than a sea of roaring blue as Everton, known fondly as the people’s club, play their high-pressing style for the thousands in attendance and the 800 supporters whose ashes lie buried beneath Goodison Park’s turf.
Note: Each week, we highlight a new stadium, from Old Trafford and the Camp Nou to Rhyl FC’s 3,000-seat Belle Vue ground. If you’d like to have this feature (along with other dispatches from the soccer universe) delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our weekly bulletin.
