Take a look at the photos on this link (Can't post them on here for some reason)
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw057567
You'll find the old 'Mauretania' stand takes up the exact same footprint (more-or-less) as the Main Stand. You said the main stand was built with future surrounding improvement of the other stands in mind (Or words to that effect).
Hello mate, yep I agree with positioning of the old Mauretania stand looks very similar. I have just had quick a look through some docs on my computer but to be honest I can't find the part which sais that the main stand was built with future improvements in mind.
However, I did find the document which talks about taking advantage of its current positioning. I have pasted a paragraph from it here:
"The site plans (below) show the pitch is not central to the length of this stand.
The Mainstand starts roughly in line with the 6 yard box (at the Gwladys St end of
stand), ending approximately 20m beyond the Park end goal-line. Therefore, by
moving the pitch 10-13metres towards the park end, this will centralise the playing
area with respect to this stand, and more importantly open up valuable extra footprint
for a new larger Gwladys Street end stand. This pitch-move will necessitate the
removal of the current park stand, demonstrating the pitfalls the quick fix option and
of simply putting a new tier on this stand which would forever limit the capacity at the
New Gwladys street end, and therefore the ground as a whole (unless we have
planning permission to remove the houses behind that stand). Centralising the pitch
with respect to the mainstand will also improve the general performance of this side,
and further reduce the seated area loss due to St Luke’s"
To be honest, does it really matter whether the stand was built with future improvements in mind?
The fact is that it was built where it is, and a re-development scheme could therefore utilise a pitch move.
I'm not sure what you're getting at? I'm all for the redevelopment of the old lady over & above ANY move.
What I'm getting at is that I love Goodison, don't think any new stadiums come close to it for various reasons, and that re-development is technically possible. The only thing stopping it is the will and the money.
As regards the Park End....Which 'original plan'? As far as I'm aware, Johnston (And this is one of the very few things he can be credited for) tried to put the blockers on the single-tiered Park End stand when he seen the plans, as he (correctly) was concerned about the lower capacity potential.
When it was already gone through, well that's when he suggested the golf course.
IIRC bill was on the (pre-johnston) board when they applied for football trust funding for the Park End. Then, he was a benefactor of GFE when the golf course was proposed.
Strange how things change, innit?
Yes it is strange how things change!
With regards to the park end... apparently re-developing the whole ground was talked about internally in the club at some point post 1970 but then abandoned. I've no idea when, sorry. But to be honest although it would be interesting to find out more about that, does it really matter if it is true or not? What concerns me is that we don't give up on the chance of re-developing Goodison and end up in some cheap shed somewhere. I won't hold my breath about either happening though
