Women’s Super League: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Goodison Park
Date: Sunday, 14 September
Kick-off: 14:30 BST
For the neutral, Everton v Tottenham might seem like another Women’s Super League fixture. But Sunday’s 14:30 kick-off marks a historic moment: Everton Women will play their first match at Goodison Park since it became their permanent home.
The team have graced the iconic stadium before—most memorably in a 1-0 Merseyside derby win over Liverpool in November 2024—but only ever as visitors to the men’s team’s ground. With Everton’s men relocating to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Goodison now stands as the largest dedicated women’s football stadium in England, ready to begin a new chapter.
Defender Kenzie Weir, daughter of former Everton captain David Weir, summed it up simply: “It’s ours.”
Originally earmarked for demolition and redevelopment under former owner Farhad Moshiri, Goodison Park’s future was dramatically reshaped following the Friedkin Group’s takeover in December 2024. Rather than bulldoze its 133-year history, the new ownership recognised the stadium’s potential as a home for the women’s team.
Modifications have already begun. Capacity remains at nearly 40,000, though upper tiers are closed off with branding, and concourse areas have been adapted for the women’s game. Everton Women CEO Hannah Forshaw explained the approach:
“This is not just bricks and mortar. That’s a stadium with a soul. We want our fans to help us shape this new era, ensuring Goodison is fit for purpose while respecting its heritage.”
Among the changes: improved flow for supporters, an open fan park, and a trial allowing alcohol in the stands. The emphasis, Forshaw says, is on building a matchday experience collaboratively with supporters.
For the players, the move is both a privilege and a responsibility. Weir recalls her childhood memories of Goodison during her father’s career:
“The history and the feeling you get when you go to Goodison is different to any other stadium. Now it’s our stage to showcase what we’ve got. There’s pressure, but it motivates us to carry the legacy forward.”
Head coach Brian Sorensen echoed the sentiment, describing the stadium as already “starting to feel like home”. He highlighted rebranded tunnels, upgraded facilities, and the symbolic balance between tradition and progress:
“We are inheriting something historical, and we need to play with pride. It’s the blend of a new era and a history we can’t forget.”
Everton once ranked among England’s elite women’s sides, winning a league title in 1998, two domestic cups in the late 2000s, and competing in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2011. Stars like Jill Scott, Fara Williams, Toni Duggan, and Rachel Brown-Finnis wore the shirt during that golden period.
But in recent years, under Moshiri’s ownership, the team struggled to keep pace with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United. Since 2016, Everton have not finished higher than fifth in the WSL.
Now, optimism is growing. The Friedkin Group’s track record in women’s football is proven—they have overseen six trophies with AS Roma since 2020. Nine new players arrived this summer, including Ornella Vignola, who scored a hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield on debut.
Forshaw is realistic yet ambitious: “We won’t win the league in season one, but we aim to be competitive, attract star players, push for cup runs, and build year-on-year.”
Sorensen sees Goodison itself as a recruitment tool: “Goodison is a magic place. I’ve spoken to agents and players about it. Stability and ownership backing are what female players look for, and we can now offer that.”
For Weir and her teammates, playing at Goodison represents more than convenience—it is a chance to inscribe their own history into a ground synonymous with Everton’s men’s success. The stadium witnessed 24 trophies, including eight league titles.
“If you look at women’s football in England over the past 20 years, Everton have always been there with top players who’ve gone on to great things,” Weir reflected. “Now it’s our job to take that history, push forward, and create new memories.”
As Goodison Park begins its new era, the message is clear: this is not simply a handover—it is a rebirth.
