Good-bye but not Farewell

Having written a few pieces on Goodison Park over the course of the season I was delighted to read about Everton's plans for the famous old ground now that their fantastic new stadium is ready to roll.

Some years ago, when one of the previous schemes for a new home for the Toffees seemed to be coming to fruition, I penned an article, for a website called Square Football, hoping that Goodison could somehow be retained, almost as a living museum that would future generations an idea of how football grounds used to be.

It was a distant wish at the time, the reality of Everton's situation back then that the sale of the land was needed to fund the planned move but the idea of making Goodison the permanent home of Everton Women is, I think, one of the most uplifting pieces of football news I have heard in a long time, on so many levels.

First and foremost, with the modifications that are going to be made, it will become a regular, unique and, hopefully, affordable venue to watch top-flight football in, not too small but not too big either and capable of generating a great atmosphere.

Add into that the fact that football supporters can still get a sense of the famous old ground, it's position amongst a warren of streets and with real shops and pubs surrounding it (businesses who will hopefully still benefit) then it seems to be that rarest of things in the game, a commercially sound idea that also has positive community benefits.

Last Word

I've written a few pieces on Goodison Park recently, highlighted some matches in the FA Youth Cup and WSL that hopefully will have given a few more people a chance to watch a game at the famous old ground.

The clock really is ticking now with only a handful of fixtures to come and memories to be made, like those in a wonderful article by Alexandra Topping in the Guardian this week. 

There is, of course, the final Merseyside derby at Goodison this week but there is also the reverse WSL fixture at Anfield on Sunday May 4.

An early-bird ticket offer is in place until 2pm on February 18 which sees adult tickets priced at £8 and juniors £2.50.

Not Many More Goodison Nights

Nearly 39,000 were in attendance at Goodison Park on a freezing Thursday night, watching Everton eventually see off Peterborough United in the FA Cup and also taking one of the dwindling chances to take in a game under the lights at the famous old stadium.

James Nalton had a nice piece on Goodison in Friday's Morning Star and there is a good chance to take in the surroundings on Tuesday 21 January when Everton U18s take on Wolves in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Admission to the game is priced at £5 adults and £3 for concessions, cash on the turnstiles as well!

Before then, Stoke City are offering free entry to their FA Youth Cup fixture against West Brom this coming Tuesday, 14 January, at 7pm.

After the Storm

Storm Darragh may have postponed, to a later date, the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park but there is a great chance to watch a game at the famous old stadium this coming Wednesday (December 11th) at 7pm.

Everton's youngsters take on Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup with tickets priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. 

Fair play to the Toffees and all the clubs who have played their third round matches at their main stadium. I had fancied watching the Sky Blues under-18's at Manchester United if that had been scheduled for Old Trafford but it was not to be.

At least that game, to be played at Leigh Sports Village, should still give some sense of occasion for the players and their families, unlike those fixtures that will take place at club training grounds which won't do much to differentiate the youth cup from a normal league match.

There are ties scheduled this coming week, weather permitting, at Carrow Road, Sincil Bank, Brunton Park, Loftus Road and Kenilworth Road.

A Long Time Gone - Updated

'Take me home, Highfield Road', sing Sky Blues supporters and, even as the years roll by, there's many a moment when I find myself thinking about a place where I spent so much time between the early 80's and Coventry's move to their new stadium in 2005.

I'm sure Everton fans will feel the same in years to come, however nice their new home is (and it looks fantastic from the videos), and are taking in as many memories as they can this season of the sights and sounds of a matchday at Goodison Park.

If you fancy doing just that then tickets for the women's Merseyside Derby, on Sunday 17th November (kick-off 3pm), will be on general sale later this week, priced at £10/£5 and £2.

Updated 22 October: As well as the derby, Everton Women's game against Chelsea on Sunday 3rd November (6:45pm) will also be at Goodison.

Tickets for that one are also priced at £10 adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for under-18s with special bundle packages also available for both matches.

Two Free Matches In One Week At Goodison Park

Everton are throwing open the doors of the grand old ground on Monday 8th May at 7pm for the Under-23 Merseyside derby against Liverpool and also for Everton Ladies WSL2 Spring Series fixture against Watford on Sunday 14th May at 2pm.

Both games will offer the opportunity for supporters to donate to the club's 'Home Is Where The Heart Is' campaign.

Free Football at Goodison, Carrow Road, Deepdale and SJP

Four good opportunities before the end of February to watch a match under lights at one of these famous old grounds, all kicking off at 7pm so family-friendly as well.

That especially applies to the first game. Everton Under-23's versus Southampton at Goodison Park, as it takes place during half-term on Monday 20th.

The Blues currently top the Premier League 2 table, there will be pre-match activity from 5.30pm in the Fan Zone and funds will also be raised for the city's homeless through the 'Home Is Where the Heart Is' campaign.

Dinamo Zagreb visit East Anglia on Monday 27th for a Premier League International Cup quarter-final against Norwich City Under-23's.

And on the same evening there are two last eight ties in the FA Youth Cup as Preston North End host Stoke City and Newcastle United take on Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park.

Stoke supporters are also being offered free travel up to their game.

Everton Say It With Reduced Prices for Krasnodar Clash

As both a long-standing admirer of Everton Football Club (from studying in Liverpool and games against Coventry at Goodison watched with friends who followed the hosts) and someone whose televison consumption of live football comes mainly from ITV4, it has been a pleasure to watch the Toffees in the Europa League this season.

No rotation, no moaning, no wishing they weren't there in the first place. Roberto Martinez has approached the competition with the style that has become his trademark and has been rewarded with qualification for the knockout stages with a game to spare.

The fans look to have had a ball as well, on trips to Lille and Wolfsburg and to say thank you, the club have significantly reduced prices for the final group stage fixture when Krasnodar visit Goodison Park on Thursday 11 December (8:05pm).

Season Ticket holder prices are £12 for adults, £6 for over-65's and 16-20's and £5 for under-16's. For non-Season Ticket holders it is £15, £7.50 and £5 respectively.

Before then there is free entry to Goodison Park for this Monday's under-21 game against Sunderland (7pm) with lots of family activities taking place beforehand.

Everton Versus Manchester United For Free This Month

Earlier this season I blogged on Affordable Football about how clubs could do more to promote reserve team (now under-21) football to a family audience and make much more of the experience rather than farming out games to other venues or playing them in the middle of the day.

Since then I have highlighted Leicester City's attempts to offer just such an experience over the course of the season (2,000+ fans and also the inaugural season of the FA Premier League Under-21 Cup, the next round of which takes places before the end of October.

A mention now for Everton and their decision to make the game against Manchester United on Monday 21st October free for all fans with the specific aim of younger supporters being able to experience the buzz of being in a (hopefully) packed Gwladys Street Stand.

Alan Myers, Director of Communications, said: “The Under-21s have made a terrific start to their season, so we are in for a really exciting game against tough opposition. We hope all our junior fans, some who may not have been able to come to a fixture before, come along and enjoy the magic of Goodison Park.”