There’s a subtle hidden detail built into the stands at Goodison Park and Everton fans are only just seeing it.
The Toffees are leaving Goodison after 133 years to take up residence in their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock later this year.
Everton’s famous old ground will host the men’s team for the final time in Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Southampton before it’s refreshed and retooled as the new, permanent home of Everton Women.
As the long farewell continues, even Everton supporters who regularly attend matches at Goodison have noticed a tiny but beautiful hidden detail that might have passed many of them by.
The detail, subtly built into the Park Stand, is a nod to Everton’s heritage and a tie to the club’s local community in Liverpool.
Perhaps best viewed when the Park Stand is empty, the clever detail is built into the vomitories – yes, vomitories – that spew the Toffees faithful into the seating area on matchdays.
The shape of the steps around the accesses is capped with a pointed yellow safety railing a few rows of seats above.
Combined, they form a representation of Prince Rupert’s Tower, one of the city’s two Georgian lock-up buildings located not far from Stanley Park.
Everton’s association with the tower goes back a long way.
First appearing in the club badge as far back as 1938, it’s been a constant component of the club’s identity since the 1970s.
Its silhouette has replaced the club badge entirely on this season’s away shirt.
Everton’s new stadium (Image: Getty)
“Prince Rupert’s Tower is a village lock-up on Everton Brow which was originally used to hold minor criminals and drunks overnight,” reports The Sun.
“It was saved by Everton in 1997 when they paid £15,000 for the tower to be restored.”
The Toffees moved into Goodison in 1892. Decades later it became the first stadium in England with undersoil heating.
Goodison Park has been the home of a club with nine First Division titles, five FA Cups and a UEFA Cup to its name.
It also hosted five matches at the World Cup in 1966, to date the only time England has hosted the tournament.
