Leon Osman has been discussing what he’ll regret most about Goodison Park, but admits he’s been blown away by what he’s seen at the new Everton Stadium. Leon Osman has revealed what he would regret most about Goodison Park, but admits that seeing Everton’s new stadium blew him away. Everton will play their final game at Goodison Park against Southampton on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and as part of a series of star-studded events commemorating the ground’s historic last season, Osman will host Gwladys Street Presents: Cult Heroes on Wednesday, August 21, alongside former teammates Lee Carsley and Thomas Gravesen, as well as 1995 FA Cup winner Daniel Amokachi.
As the next guest on our special Goodison Park: My Home podcast series, Osman, who played 433 games for Everton and is joint 10th on the club’s all-time appearance list with Dixie Dean, told the ECHO: “I’ll miss everything. The reaction to a late goal by Goodison is perhaps what I’ll miss the most.I’ve had a full journey at Goodison Park, from watching from the stands – every different stand imaginable, I’ve seen a game from each one – to playing youth team football in an empty stadium, to playing in a full stadium, and now commentating from the gantries as neutrally as possible.
It’s been a long trip, but one thing has been constant: when we score a late winner, when Goodison Park is rocking after a late triumph in a game that could have gone either way. “Those moments, those noises, that emotion after coming back from 2-0 down against Crystal Palace. I’ll definitely miss those nights at Goodison.
Everton will leave Goodison Park for their new home on the Mersey waterfront at Bramley-Moore Dock for the 2025/26 season, and as one of the select few to have been inside the 52,888-capacity stadium on many times, Osman has been extremely satisfied with what he has seen. The 43-year-old remarked, “I’m privileged to have been to the new stadium. I’ve seen it progress through the various stages of creation, and I was there before a single brick was laid.
“I went back a couple of weeks ago to see how things are going and what the corporate hospitality and standard seats will look like. It blew me away.”It’s going to be fantastic. The new stadium’s appearance, significance, and first-time experience will be intense and exciting. “I assume I’m just like everyone. I’m disappointed to be leaving Goodison, especially given its history. But I’m also excited to get into this new stadium and transform it into a true Everton stadium.”
