The Story of Goodison Park:
A New Documentary Celebrating Everton Football Club’s Historic Home.

Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady is a documentary film written and presented by broadcaster Matthew Walker. The film traces the rich and emotional history of one of football’s most iconic stadiums—from its roots in a Methodist church team in 1878 to its place at the centre of Everton Football Club for over 130 years.

This is not a documentary about fixtures and formations. It is a love letter to a ground that has meant everything to generations of fans. Combining historical storytelling with personal memories and cultural context, The Grand Old Lady tells the story of how a patch of land in Liverpool became a cathedral of football, and how its spirit continues even as the club looks to the future.

About Presenter, Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker is a television presenter, live event host, and documentary filmmaker whose work spans sport, broadcasting, and storytelling. He has presented major sporting events including Formula 1 coverage, hosted international conferences and awards shows, and worked with global clients on stage and on screen.

Alongside his presenting career, Walker has developed a growing body of work in creative storytelling, blending his natural on-camera presence with a deep curiosity for history and culture. As a lifelong Everton supporter, Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady represents a personal and professional milestone—a chance to combine craft with passion, and to document a place that has shaped his identity.

A History of Goodison Park

Goodison Park opened its gates in 1892 and immediately made history. Following a rent dispute at Anfield—then Everton’s home—club officials took the bold step of building a purpose-built football stadium. At a time when most teams played on public fields or modest enclosures, Everton’s decision signaled ambition and forward-thinking.

The result was Goodison Park: the first major football stadium in England constructed specifically for the sport. It included stands on all four sides, turnstiles to manage crowds, and eventually innovations like under-soil heating and covered seating—decades ahead of its time.

Over the following decades, Goodison Park became synonymous with the rise of English football. It hosted league title celebrations, FA Cup glories, and moments of individual brilliance. In 1927–28, Dixie Dean’s remarkable 60-goal season captivated the nation. In the 1960s, the ground echoed with the magic of Ball, Harvey and Kendall—the "Holy Trinity" that defined an era. And in the 1980s, Howard Kendall’s Everton team delivered trophies and unforgettable nights under the floodlights.

Goodison was more than a home ground. It was a venue for FA Cup finals (before Wembley became the standard), international fixtures, and even wartime morale. With its Archibald Leitch-designed latticework and tight terraces, it felt less like a stadium and more like a community amphitheatre. For decades, children passed down tickets like heirlooms and generations of fans came to know the same seats, same chants, same rituals.

Even in its quieter years, Goodison held significance. It stood during tragedy—such as the loss of Dixie Dean in 1980, who passed away at the ground during a Merseyside Derby—and solidarity, especially following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. In those moments, it became a place of silence and remembrance.

Today, it remains one of the last traditional football grounds in the top flight, rich in character, memory, and identity.

A New Chapter: The Future of Goodison Park

As Everton prepares to move to its new home at Bramley Moore Dock, the story of Goodison Park is not ending—it is evolving.

The stadium will not be demolished or forgotten. Instead, it will be reimagined as the new home of Everton Women, ensuring that football remains central to its future. This is a significant and symbolic decision. The same pitch that once hosted legends like Dean, Labone, and Lineker will soon witness the next generation of players representing the club at the highest level of the women's game.

Goodison Park’s next chapter continues its legacy of community, progress, and ambition. While the Grand Old Lady may no longer be the club’s primary venue, her heartbeat will still echo every time the ball rolls across the pitch.

Watch the Documentary

The full film, Goodison Park: The Grand Old Lady, is now available to watch on YouTube.

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_VBvOoYahw&t=44s

Viewers are encouraged to like the video, leave a comment sharing their memories of Goodison Park, and subscribe to Matthew Walker’s channel for future documentaries and film projects.

Contact

Matthew Walker is available for presenting, hosting, voiceover, and documentary commissions.

For all professional enquiries, including press features or media appearances relating to The Grand Old Lady, please contact:

Email: matthew@thestandoutcompany.com
Call: 0207 088 8085
Website: www.matthewwalker.tv
Instagram: @matthewwalkertv
YouTube Channel: matthewwalker-tv