Goodison Road was already in place when, in 1892, Everton Football Club purchased the land along its Eastern edge and immediately began to construct their new football ground. The road had been named after a Civil Engineer. George William Goodison had first seen the light of day in the Holbeck suburb of Leeds where he was born at the home of his Grandfather who was the local shoemaker. His Father, Samuel Goodison, had married Elizabeth Walker and brought her to live with his parents. In 1846 Elizabeth gave birth to a son who she christened George William Goodison.

In 1851 the family are living at 22, Ebony Street in the Hunslet district of Leeds and Samuel Goodison is earning a living as a Milk Salesmen. The young George must then have studied at a local Technical College because, in 1861, he is articled to a Civil Engineer named Alfred Taylor and is training under his supervision. He is also living with the Taylor family at their home in Kilshaw Terrace, Great Crosby. George William

Goodison was successful with his studies and eventually, became the consultant engineer to the Local Boards of both Walton-on-the Hill and Much Woolton (These areas had not as yet been incorporated in to Liverpool) and took up office at 4, South John Street in Liverpool. The Walton Board had purchased a large flower and vegetable nursery on County Road, which they planned to give over for housing. George W. Goodison then surveyed the land and planned a pattern of drains in which the local sewerage system could be laid. He did this so successfully that Goodison Road, which was at the centre of the development, was named in deference to his work.

George William Goodison, in 1869, married Anne Jane Padley of Adelaide Terrace, Waterloo at St Bride's church in Chester. She was a trained Egyptologist and took up residence with her Husband at Gateacre House. The couple however, soon moved to Lake District.

The reasons that prompted them to move are, as yet unclear but in 1881 the couple are living near to Lake Coniston in a house that is called “Coniston Bank”. They have rented the property. George W. Goodison is listed as a Civil Engineer and five servants are employed at his house. In August 1887, Mr. Goodison, during his time at Coniston, took oaths at Lancaster and became a Justice of Peace for County Palatine of Lancashire. He also became a fellow manager of the village school and, along with the poet John Ruskin, shared the rota as official school visitor. His wife, in the meantime, had also been pursuing her career. Anne Goodison, in 1887, was nominated to become a member of the Biblical Archeology Society while, in 1889, her kindness was acknowledged for donating an Egyptian object to the Kendal Museum.

It was around the turn of century when George W. Goodison moved back to Merseyside and took up residence at Beech Lawn in Waterloo. He is now 57 years old and his wife is 55. There is no mention of children. The couple has three servants employed at their home two of which are sisters. They are Mary Newby, who is 30 years old and her younger sister Sarah who is 28. Both women where born in Coniston. George is now a partner in a civil engineering firm named Goodison, Atkinson & Forde and their offices are located at 32a Castle Street in Liverpool. He also occupied the bench at the Liverpool County Sessions Court before leaving Merseyside to spend his final years in the Cotwolds.

George William Goodison took up residence at “Elm House” in the Cloucestershire village of Stratton where his wife Anne died in December 1906. In 1911, he is living by “Private Means” and has married his former servant, Sarah Ann Newby. Meanwhile, back in Liverpool, a gigantic new grandstand had recently been completed along Goodison Road and the Everton Football Ground was very much in demand. The F.A. Cup final re-play, which occurred in 1909, took place at Goodison Park while the home International game, played between England v Scotland, was also played there in 1911. George William Goodison, who died in 1913, would have no doubt spent his twilight years thinking, Goodison Park! I gave that ground its name.

The Ordnance Survey Map of 1892.