Football has a funny way of anchoring us. For generations of Evertonians, the ritual hasn’t just been about ninety minutes on the pitch; it’s been about the streets we walk on the way to Goodison Road, weaving between the houses, the familiar matchday pubs, and the faces we’ve grown up seeing in the stands.
Our club made a monumental move to its new waterfront home at Bramley-Moore Dock, Hill Dickinson Stadium, we find ourselves in the middle of an era defined by deep history, immense excitement, and genuine uncertainty, all at once.
As fans, we knew Goodison Park couldn’t keep pace with the demands of the modern game forever, yet we’ve been emotionally attached to it for generations. It’s all we’ve ever known, and change is never easy.
As a photographer, my work has always been driven by a desire to document football culture and supporter identity with complete authenticity, but as a fan, this project and the two other books in the trilogy is deeply personal.
I’ve spent years photographing the incredible social fabric that surrounds Everton, capturing the raw emotion and character of the people who make this club what it is. After all, the supporters are the heart of Everton.
When times were at their toughest, they were the ones who rallied together to drag the club over the line, gathering in their thousands to welcome the team into Goodison Park.
That is exactly why I created my latest photobook, On The Banks. I wanted to build a lasting visual archive and a collector’s piece for everyone who has built their life around this football club.
It documents the first season in our new home, not simply as a celebration of what happened on the pitch, but as a record of a movement a club, a fanbase, and a city adapting to a changed environment while carrying its identity forward.
A City and Culture Realigned
A stadium move is never just a change of address. It is a complete reshaping of our cultural geography. For a club with community roots as deep as ours, leaving behind decades of localised memories has stirred an intense mix of emotions.
I don’t think we as Evertonians or football fans more broadly, will truly appreciate the significance of this move for many years to come.
It is a historic moment that will reshape not only our club, but the footballing and cultural landscape of this city. It is a seismic shift.
Through my lens, I’ve tried to look beyond the grand steel structures and focus on the moments between the moments: the expressions, emotions, and quiet reflections of supporters carrying the weight of this transition.
On The Banks looks closely at the people who are the true heartbeat of Everton, ensuring that our collective stories and faces are not lost amid the excitement and spectacle of a new world-class stadium.
A Legacy and a New Beginning
This book balances the dramatic transformation of Liverpool’s skyline with the intimate, human experiences unfolding on the ground through the eyes of Everton supporters.
For those who want to hold on to a piece of this passing era while embracing the future, I hope this book serves as both a lasting keepsake and a vital record of a defining chapter in our club’s history.
Ordering Information:
On The Banks is now officially available to purchase. You can find more information or secure your copy directly through Laura Gates Photography.
For media enquiries or any questions about the book, please feel free to get in touch at info@lauragatesphotography.co.uk.
Copies are also available to retailers and stockists. If you’re interested in stocking On The Banks, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
