CESSPIT CENTRAL

Last updated : 24 September 2003 By Editor
From the Guardian:

Merseyside arch-rivals Liverpool and Everton have been involved in initial talks over the possibility of sharing a ground.

The city council and the Northwest Development Agency have urged the two Merseyside giants to give consideration to the issue as the long-term solution to the ongoing debate over the future of Anfield and Goodison Park continues.

Public money could be made available for such a project should the two sides end up sharing a stadium, although Liverpool have been swift to reaffirm their commitment to the regeneration of Stanley Park.

A statement from Bryan Gray, chairman of the NWDA, who are responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of the region, said:

"The Northwest Development Agency, together with Liverpool City Council, have asked Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club to discuss the economic development and regeneration benefits of building a new, world-class football stadium in Liverpool.”

Liverpool are poised to submit a planning application at the beginning of October for a multi-million pound stadium in Stanley Park, while Everton's long-running bid to move from Goodison has so far proved unsuccessful, with plans to move to a waterfront development at Kings Dock the latest to fail to get off the ground.

The issue of the two famous clubs moving in together has sparked great debate among the blue and red halves of the city. Opposition from both clubs scuppered the idea of a joint stadium in the 1960s, while a proposal was raised again in 1989 following the Hillsborough disaster - but no discussions took place.