EVERTON’S second test match in their new stadium ended with an evacuation.
The Toffees are ready to leave their historic Goodison Park ground – England’s first major football stadium – after 132 years.
And the Merseysiders are moving in to their brand new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in May.
The Premier League outfit held their first test event at their 52,888-capacity ground last month.
About 10,000 lucky fans won a ballot and got to watch Everton’s Under-18s take on Wigan’s reserves, who won the friendly match with a score of 2-1.
The club decided to take advantage of the international break to host a second test match.
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This time a record 25,000 fans got to watch the Under-21s take on Bolton’s B team at the £800million venue on Sunday.
Everton youngster Kingsford Boayke scored the only goal of the match before a planned evacuation was announced after 65 minutes.
The clearance took place in order to ensure the club can obtain a safety license for their new stadium
Everton posted earlier this week: “An evacuation exercise will be performed at Everton’s new stadium as part of the test event schedule that will enable the Club to obtain a safety licence for the 52,888-capacity waterfront venue.
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“The 25,000-plus supporters attending the stadium’s second test event – a friendly between the Blues’ Under-21s and Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ on Sunday 23 March – are to be asked to exit the stadium during the second half, before the full-time whistle.
“The process will allow the emergency services and local authorities to monitor a large-scale evacuation from the Bramley-Moore Dock site and supporters attending the event are being asked to play their part in making the exercise a success.
“The planned evacuation will signal the end of the match and supporters will not be allowed to return to the stadium.
“Attendees will be safely guided out of the stadium and will not be required to muster or congregate.
“Instead, once out of the stadium, fans will be encouraged to leave as they would if they were leaving after a game.
“The Club is working with transport authorities to ensure local services are timed to manage the flow of people away from Bramley-Moore Dock as they exit the stadium.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
