To the delight of Evertonians, Goodison Park will not suffer the same fate as some of English football’s famous old grounds after the Toffees play their final game at their home of 133 years on Sunday.
From next season, Goodison will become the permanent home of Everton’s women’s team, as the men’s side move across to their newly built Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It’s a fate befitting a ground that has staged World Cup knockout matches, thrilling European ties and a number of title-winning celebrations. Unfortunately, the reality is very different for most stadiums after they’ve been replaced by updated shiny models.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester City have all upped sticks to bigger abodes in recent years, leaving behind the history made in their old homes. The fans, team, iconography and everything else of value makes the journey to the new gaff. Just not the memories – they remain locked in the space they occurred.
Indeed, the way a side handles their old ground after departing speaks volume about the club and its ethos. Some cast it aside to make room for lavish housing apartments or new-build modules, while others manage to retain a mark honouring what took place before.
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at a multitude of approaches from clubs across English football’s pyramid, in the week that Everton committed to continue staging matches on their side of Stanley Park.
Everton women’s team will play all their home games at Goodison Park from next season
The move comes in light of Everton men’s team switching to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium (pictured) this summer
Griffin Park, Brentford (1904-2020)
The Bees waved goodbye to their home of 116 years in 2020 just as a new era for the club dawned with their promotion to the Premier League. Plans to leave Griffin Park had been in the air for more than 40 years and before that there was a deeply unpopular plot to merge with Queens Park Rangers.
Brentford spent 58 of 59 years until 2014 languishing in the third and fourth tiers. For 12 seasons from the mid-sixties they were the lowest-ranked London club in the Football League.
Only when Matthew Benham took control 13 years ago with the club in League One did the outlook brighten. The shiny west London Gtech Community Stadium is a fitting home for the top flight’s biggest overachievers, while Griffin Park was demolished with the view to construct 149 new homes.
Though work began in 2020, recent pictures would indicate that not much progress has been made in the intervening five years. In November 2024, The Sun claimed that EcoWorld were still chasing planning permission for their plans to develop the new apartments.
Sadly, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans were unable to give the ground a fitting send off in the Bees’ final campaign at the stadium.
The Bees waved goodbye to their home of 116 years in 2020 just as a new era for the club dawned with their promotion to the Premier League
Griffin Park was demolished shortly after Brentford moved out with the view to construct 149 new homes
Though work began in 2020, recent pictures would indicate that not much progress has been made in the intervening five years
Highbury, Arsenal (1913-2006)
Thierry Henry famously kissed the grass after securing his hat-trick against Wigan in what was the final goal at Arsenal’s old home. Highbury hosted the World Heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper in 1966 but was dropped as a World Cup venue in the same year.
It also witnessed several of the Gunners title-winning celebrations, most recently their unbeaten campaign in 2004. But Highbury, which had an attendance of 38,419, closed its doors in 2006, with the Gunners’ move to the Emirates.
After its closure, Arsenal held an auction to sell off many of the stadium’s parts, including pieces of the pitch and the goalposts – and it was redeveloped and converted into flats in a project known as ‘Highbury Square’.
711 properties were built on the site – the North Bank and Clock End stands were demolished while the pitch became a communal garden.
Thierry Henry famously kissed the grass after securing his hat-trick against Wigan in what was the final goal at Arsenal’s old home
Highbury hosted the World Heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper in 1966
After its closure, Highbury was redeveloped and converted into flats in a project known as ‘Highbury Square’
Burnden Park, Bolton Wanderers (1895-1997)
Bolton Wanderers played their home games at the 22,000-capacity Burnden Park for more than 100 years.
It was the scene of a disaster in 1946 when 33 fans were crushed to death, and another 400 injured, in an FA Cup quarter-final second leg tie between Bolton and Stoke City.
Some of the dead were crushed against steel barriers which gave way, while others were trampled as play continued after the victims had been removed. Bolton moved from Burnden Park to the Toughsheet Community Stadium in 1997.
Until the Ibrox Park disaster, which killed 66 Rangers fans in Glasgow in 1971, the Burnden Park disaster remained the worst loss of life at a British football ground
For some years, the site suffered before it was turned into an Asda superstore, among other shops, in 2005. The Asda store identifies itself with Burnden Park by having a number of large photographs of the former stadium and players, placed high above the checkouts.
Bolton Wanderers played their home games at the 22,000-capacity Burnden Park for more than 100 years
It was the scene of a disaster in 1946 when 33 fans were crushed to death, and 400 injured
For some years, the site suffered before it was turned into an Asda superstore, among other shops, in 2005
The Asda store identifies itself with Burnden Park by having a number of large photographs of the former stadium and players
Eastville, Bristol Rovers (1897-1986)
Relegated League One outfit Bristol Rovers’ Eastville home shut its doors in 1997 ahead of its demolition in 1998. Built in 1897, the ground was staged The Pirates’ games until 1986 and had a record attendance of 39,462.
The stadium was also used as a greyhound racing venue and was home to the Bristol Bulldogs speedway racing team.
After being sold for development, plans were announced for a new Bristol greyhound stadium but these never materalised and the operation instead moved to sister track Swindon.
Upon Eastville’s destruction, the site remained derelict until it was snapped by Swedish furniture giants IKEA and transformed into a megastore.
Relegated League One outfit Bristol Rovers’ Eastville home shut its doors in 1997 ahead of its demolition in 1998
After being sold for development, plans were announced for a new Bristol greyhound stadium but these never materalised
Instead, the site remained derelict until it was snapped by Swedish furniture giants IKEA and transformed into a megastore
Fellows Park, Walsall (1896-1990)
The Midlands outfit were forced to leave their ground after suffering back-to-back relegations at the dawn of the 1990s.
Plans for relocation had begun in earnest after a perimeter wall collapsed during a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 1984. The scary event is perhaps best remembered for the image of then-Reds skipper Graeme Souness carrying an injured child to safety in the scramble to aid aid the afflicted.
By the time Fellows Park was finally demolished in 1991, tales of its decay were legendary. The Hillary Street roof for example, billowed in high winds and showered fans with rusty water on rainy days.
Having fallen from the second to four tier in the shortest time possible, the Saddlers upped sticks and moved to the Bescot Stadium, while Fellows Park was torn down to make way for a Morrisons supermarket.
The Midlands outfit were forced to leave their ground after suffering back-to-back relegations at the dawn of the 1990s
By the time Fellows Park was finally demolished in 1991, tales of its decay were legendary
As the Saddlers moved Bescot Stadium, Fellows Park was torn down to make way for a Morrisons supermarket
Filbert Street, Leicester City (1892-2002)
Leicester City hosted their last match at Filbert Street in 2002 when Tottenham came to visit the 22,000-capacity stadium.
Following the success of the club under Martin O’Neill during the later part of the 1990s, an expanded stadium was required for higher attendances and to provide better facilities.
Demolition of Filbert Street began in 2003 and part of the site is now home to the ‘Filbert Village’ development, built as accommodation for students for the nearby De Montfort University and University of Leicester, while some of it is also derelict.
Reports in 2019 suggested the derelict plot, sold to developers for £3.75million, could finally be reinvigorated with a large complex of flats and houses but work is still to be undertaken.
Leicester City hosted their last match at Filbert Street in 2002 when Tottenham came to visit the 22,000-capacity stadium
Demolition of Filbert Street began in 2003 and part of the site is now home to the ‘Filbert Village’ development, built as accommodation for students
However, parts of the site, which sits close to the Foxes’ King Power home, remain derelict
Goldstone Ground, Brighton (1902-1997)
Brighton’s former stadium, Goldstone Ground, hosted matches at the 1948 Olympic Games while David Beckham made his professional debut at the stadium for Manchester United in 1992.
Brighton avoided relegation to non-league by winning their final match there in 1997.
Then-chairman Bill Archer and chief executive David Bellotti sold the ground for a retail development without sorting out a replacement stadium.
As a result, the Seagulls spent 14 years without a permanent home before the Amex was built in 2011.
Meanwhile, the area was changed to a row of warehouse style retail shops, along with a ‘drive-thru’ Burger King outlet.
Brighton’s former stadium, Goldstone Ground, hosted matches at the 1948 Olympic Games while David Beckham made his professional debut at the stadium
Then-chairman Bill Archer and chief executive David Bellotti sold the ground for a retail development without sorting out a replacement stadium
As a result, the Seagulls spent 14 years without a permanent home before the Amex was built in 2011
Meanwhile, the area was changed to a row of warehouse style retail shops, though a small reminder of the old ground remains on the site
Manor Ground, Oxford United (1925-2001)
Manor Ground was home to Oxford United for 76 years before it was demolished in 2001
The 1986 League Cup winners moved into ground in 1925 and enjoyed a three-year run in the top flight before suffering three relegations in the 1990s
Then-Oxford owner Firoz Kassam bought the Manor Ground for £6million and transformed it into the Manor Hospital
As well as the state-of-the-art hospital, the site also includes 87 flats in the place Oxford’s stadium once sat
Perhaps the most noble afterlife for a stadium on this list, Manor Ground – home to Oxford United for 76 years – was turned into a hospital (a private one, mind) after its demolition in 2001.
The 1986 League Cup winners moved into ground in 1925 and enjoyed a three-year run in the top flight before suffering three relegations in the 1990s. But the Manor Ground began to show its age, with crumbling terraces increasing safety concerns.
Then-Oxford owner Firoz Kassam bought the Manor Ground for £6million with his own company, before building a state-of-the-hospital and 87 flats in its place.
