Goodison Park

• Location : Goodison Road, Liverpool, England
  
• Opened : 24 August 1892.
  
• Owner : Everton F.C.
  
• Operator : Evrton F.C.
• Tenants : Everton F.C.
  
• Architect : Kelly Brothers Intially, With Archibald Leitch later.
  
• Construction Cost : £3000
  
• Capacity : 40.158

Goodison Park is a football stadium in Liverpool, England and home ground of Everton F.C. The ground was built in 1892, though it has been greatly developed since, having an all-seated capacity of 40,158.

Goodison Park is the world's first purpose built football stadium and has recorded several firsts in stadium development in England. As well as hosting Everton games the stadium has been the venue for an FA Cup Final and numerous international fixtures, including several in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The stadium's future is currently undecided as the club have been pursuing the construction of a new stadium in Kirkby on the border of the city of Liverpool.


History

Before Goodison Park

Everton originally played on an open pitch in the southeast corner of the newly laid out Stanley Park. This is the site for the proposed new Liverpool F.C. stadium. The first official match took place in 1879. John Houlding's house backed onto the park and was attracted to the club that attracted large crowds. Houlding became involved in the club.

Professional clubs required proper enclosed facilities. In 1882, a Mr J. Cruit donated land at Priory Road which became the club's home for two years, with proper hoarding and turnstiles. Mr Cruit asked the club to leave his land as the crowds became far too large and noisy.

Everton moved to nearby Anfield, proper covered stands were built. Everton played at Anfield from 1884 until 1892. During this time the club turned professional, entering teams in the FA Cup and became founder members of the Football League, winning their first championship at the ground in 1890–91. The ground's capacity reached over 20,000 and the club hosted an England vs. Ireland international match. Everton were the first team to introduce the goalnet to professional football, at Anfield.

At this time, a dispute of how the club was to be owned and run emerged with Anfield's majority owner and Everton's chairman, John Houlding. A dispute between Houlding and the club's committee, initially over the full purchase of the land at Anfield from minor land owner Mr Orrell, snowballed to a principled disagreement of how the club was run.

Houlding attempted to gain full control of the club and steal its identity. On 26 January 1892 Houlding registered the company, Everton F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd. He doubled the rent on Anfield and on 12 March 1892 the Everton committee responded by deciding that the club should leave the ground. Houlding attempted to take over Everton's name, colours, fixtures and league position, but was denied by The Football Council on 4 February 1892, ruling against membership of a new club with the same name as an existing member. Houlding had a registered company name, however it would not be accepted by the Football Council.

After Everton had moved from Anfield, Houlding on 3 June 1892 changed the name of his company to Liverpool F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd. His new club, Liverpool F.C., initially played in the blue of Everton.

Ever since those events, a fierce rivalry has existed between Everton and Liverpool, albeit one that is generally perceived as more respectful than many other derbies in English football.

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