Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady | A New Documentary Celebrating Everton Football Club’s Historic Home

Written By Matthew Walker

A Tribute to One of Football’s Most Iconic Stadiums

After standing tall for over 130 years, Goodison Park, the legendary home of Everton Football Club, is preparing to bid farewell. In my latest documentary, Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady, I explore the soul, spirit, and history of this iconic ground – from its humble beginnings in the 19th century to the present-day legacy it leaves behind.

This feature-length film is a love letter to a place where football heritage runs deep, community pride thrives, and the thunderous roars of passionate fans have echoed through generations.

You can watch the full documentary now on my YouTube Channel, and read on to learn why this story matters — and why Goodison Park is so much more than bricks and mortar.

⚽ The Origins of Everton FC & Goodison Park

In 1878, a church cricket team known as St Domingo’s formed a football club to stay active in the cricket off-season. That decision would change English football forever. St Domingo’s became Everton Football Club, and soon, they were at the heart of a sporting revolution.

Their early matches were played in the South East corner of Stanley Park, before the team moved to Anfield in 1884. But after a rent dispute in 1892, Everton were forced to find a new home. What came next was a football first — the creation of England’s first purpose-built football stadium, and a new chapter in the club’s history.

That new home? Goodison Park.

🏟️ Goodison Park: More Than a Stadium

Opened in 1892, Goodison Park was revolutionary. It featured grandstands, turnstiles, and even under-soil heating — long before such innovations became common. But Goodison wasn’t just a marvel of architecture; it became a fortress. A community hub. A cathedral of football.

The stadium’s legacy is inseparable from Everton Football Club’s. From the legendary Dixie Dean’s record-breaking 60-goal season in 1927–28 to the golden years of the Holy Trinity (Alan Ball, Colin Harvey, and Howard Kendall), Goodison was a stage for greatness.

Through league titles, FA Cups, European nights, relegation scares and unforgettable comebacks, Goodison Park became known as The Grand Old Lady — a name that reflects its stature, character, and place in football folklore.

🎥 Behind the Documentary: Why This Story Matters

As an Evertonian and documentary filmmaker, I wanted to honour Everton FC, its rich history, and the place that helped define it. This film is not just about what happened at Goodison — it’s about what Goodison means.

It's about the generations of fans who passed through the turnstiles. The matchday rituals. The frozen pies. The broken dreams and the eternal hope. It's about community, identity, and resilience — the things that make Everton Football Club The People’s Club.

In this documentary, you’ll find:

  • The founding of Everton and their early homes

  • The groundbreaking decision to build Goodison Park

  • Historic triumphs and heartbreaking losses

  • Powerful moments of unity, such as the shared grief of the Hillsborough disaster

  • The looming transition to Bramley Moore Dock, Everton’s new stadium on the River Mersey

🧭 Key Moments Featured in the Film

  • 📍 St Domingo’s Church beginnings (1878)

  • 🏟️ Everton’s time at Anfield (1884–1892)

  • 🔨 The construction and opening of Goodison Park (1892)

  • ⚽ Dixie Dean’s historic 1927–28 season

  • 🏆 Howard Kendall’s title-winning 1980s team

  • 💔 Moments of tragedy: Hillsborough & Dixie Dean’s passing

  • 🚧 The future of Everton at Bramley Moore Dock

🎞️ Watch the Full Documentary on YouTube

🎬 Title: Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady | Full Documentary (1892–2025)
📺 Watch now: YouTube.com/@matthewwalker-tv

🔎 Why This Matters for SEO – and Why You’re Here

This blog is designed not just to inform but also to help fans, historians, and football lovers find this important story. If you searched for any of the following, you’re in the right place:

✅ Top Keywords Used in This Blog:

  • Goodison Park history

  • Everton Football Club stadium

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  • History of Everton FC

  • Goodison Park documentary

  • Everton new stadium Bramley Moore Dock

  • Everton legends Dixie Dean and Howard Kendall

  • Football stadium documentaries UK

  • Everton FC Anfield history

  • English football heritage stadiums

By covering these terms naturally within the content, this blog helps ensure that fans across the world can discover the documentary — and explore why Goodison Park remains a pillar of English football history.

👤 About the Creator

This documentary was written and presented by Matthew Walker, a filmmaker and football storyteller passionate about preserving the soul of the game. With a deep personal connection to Everton Football Club and its supporters, Matthew’s work is grounded in emotion, authenticity, and rich historical research.

🌐 Website: www.matthewwalker.tv
📺 YouTube: @matthewwalker-tv
📸 Instagram: @matthewwalkertv

🎬 Produced by: The Standout Company
🙏 Special thanks to:

  • Everton Football Club

  • Everton FC Heritage Society

💙 Final Whistle at Goodison, First Steps at Bramley Moore

As the curtain falls on Goodison Park, the story of Everton Football Club continues. With a move to the state-of-the-art Bramley Moore Dock Stadium, a new chapter begins — but the soul of Everton, built over decades at Goodison, will never fade.

This film is a celebration of everything Goodison Park represents — its spirit, its history, and its people.

Watch the film. Share the story. Honour the legacy.
Because some places aren’t just stadiums. They’re home.

Matthew Walker
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