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Goodbye to Goodison | Photographic Tribute to Everton’s Final Season at The Grand Old Lady
For more than 130 years, Goodison Park has been the beating heart of Everton Football Club. Since its opening in 1892, the historic stadium has witnessed some of the most defining moments in English football. Now, as the club prepares to transition to its new home on the banks of the River Mersey, fans and photographers alike are coming together to document the final season at Goodison in a poignant tribute titled
Goodbye to Goodison.
© Ste Curry
© Chris Wardle
The Museum of Liverpool will host a special photographic display celebrating the passion and rituals of Everton supporters who have made the matchday experience at Goodison unique. Opening on 5 April, the exhibition showcases the work of nine fan photographers, offering an intimate, grassroots perspective of the stadium’s final season. More than just a collection of images, this exhibition is a love letter to Goodison Park and the community it has fostered for well over a century.
Everton Football Club was founded in 1878, making it one of the oldest football clubs in England. After originally playing at Anfield, the club moved to Goodison Park in 1892, establishing a home that would become legendary in the world of football. Over the decades, Goodison has hosted FA Cup finals, international matches, and some of the greatest footballers to ever play the game. Its iconic wooden stands, intimate atmosphere, and close connection between fans and players have made it one of the most beloved football venues in the country.
As the club prepares to move to a state-of-the-art stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, there is an undeniable sense of nostalgia among the Everton faithful. The
Goodbye to Goodison exhibition captures this sentiment, focusing on the traditions, landmarks, and matchday routines that have defined the Everton experience for generations.
While much of the attention during Goodison Park’s final season has been on the action on the pitch,
Goodbye to Goodison shifts the focus to the streets, pubs, and gathering places that form the soul of Everton’s matchday culture. The selected photographs celebrate the experience beyond the Premier League spectacle—the walk to the stadium, the anticipation in the pubs, the vendors selling scarves, and the generations of fans sharing moments outside the ground.
Chris Wardle, a co-curator and contributor to the exhibition, highlights the importance of this perspective: “While a lot of attention is focused on the pitch for Goodison Park’s final season, I wanted to shift our focus to the pre-game experiences and moments that, to me, make this old ground so special. The display celebrates the streets, landmarks, and establishments that have become an extension of the ground over the years.”
© Brian Sayle
Everton fans have long embraced photography as a means of documenting their club. From professional photographers capturing dramatic matchday moments to amateur enthusiasts sharing their personal perspectives on social media, a vibrant photographic culture has flourished around Goodison Park. This exhibition curates some of the best of these images, offering a deeply personal look at what the final days at Goodison have meant to the fans.
© Lewis Guy
© Chris Wardle
One particularly emotional aspect of the exhibition is the decision to leave space for an image from the final game played at Goodison Park. Karen O’Rourke, curator for sport, music, and performance at the Museum of Liverpool, explains the significance of this decision: “Leaving a space for an image from the final game at Goodison Park seems like an important thing to do. We are hoping the photographers involved can capture the emotion that will no doubt overflow before and after the last game. The display pays tribute to a landmark of the city before the club moves to its new ground.”
Alongside the physical exhibition, the museum will offer additional content online, including a podcast episode featuring former players, managers, and club figures who have been part of Goodison Park’s long history. Visitors can also view an extended collection of images and share their own memories and experiences of the stadium.
© Lewis Guy
While Goodison Park’s time as Everton’s home is drawing to a close, its legacy will remain etched in the hearts of fans. The
Goodbye to Goodison exhibition serves as a fitting tribute, celebrating not just the stadium itself but the tight-knit community that has thrived around it for generations. As the club embarks on a new chapter, this photographic farewell ensures that the spirit of Goodison Park will never be forgotten.
The exhibition will be open from 5 April to 10 August at the Museum of Liverpool’s Skylight Gallery. Fans are encouraged to visit, reflect, and say their own goodbyes to one of football’s most storied grounds. For more information, visit
Liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/Goodison-park.
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