GT21 (Summer 2000)

Burnley could be on the verge of another major redevelopment of Turf Moor. Following the £6m facelift that saw two new stands built at Turf Moor in the mid-1990s, more new building work could be carried out soon. Recent speculation had suggested that the long-term future of the neighbouring cricket club could be in jeopardy.  But the boards of both the football and cricket clubs issued a joint statement to end that speculation.  That statement reveals that the two clubs will work closely together to achieve two main aims. The first is to secure the financial future of Burnley Cricket Club by providing state of the art facilities that will make it one of the strongest clubs in the Lancashire League. And the second is to look at the redevelopment of the Cricket Field Stand at Turf Moor. The idea of the Cricket Field Stand being redeveloped and being returned to being a "home" stand rather than an "away" stand is already being well received by Burnley fans. If the long-term ambitions of the current board are achieved, the current seating capacity of 22,600 would not be enough and that makes both the Cricket Field Stand and the Bob Lord Stand likely targets for development.

Everton are to think about ground re-location once more after it was revealed that owner Bill Kenwright has commissioned a feasibility study to explore the possibilities of the club leaving Goodison Park. Kenwright has always insisted that he wants to remain at Goodison but with the lack of opportunities available as regards ground expansion, it appears that relocation is their only option.  Club secretary Michael Dunford also revealed how a trip to Sunderland's impressive Stadium of Light in April prompted the fresh debate.  He said: "Our board of directors who travelled to the North East could not have failed to be impressed with the Stadium of light, but whether Everton football club becomes one of those clubs set to move is still a matter of considerable debate, which I am sure will continue and intensify in the coming months." One site that has been mentioned as a possible area for a new stadium is the city's Gilmoss district by the East Lancashire Road.

The Football League have told Colchester United to make more seats available for next season's games at Layer Road.  The League has recommended that the Essex club allocate more seats to away fans for at least six league games next season. Colchester can currently only accommodate 1800 away supporters.

The crisis at Southend United rumbles on with still no sign of any plans for a new stadium.  In March, the board held a question and answer session with supporters about the selling off of Roots Hall and to plans to relocate.  At the meeting fans were able to view computer images of the planned new stadium but the press were prevented from publishing any pictures of the scheme.  At the meeting the club set yet another deadline for plans to be submitted, this time April, but it again passed without any sign.  The club are currently losing £125,000 a month and must soon start paying rent for the use of Roots Hall, to the tune of £400,000 a year.  In less than three years the club must vacate the ground, which will then be redeveloped.

Exeter City, who we featured in our last issue, have continued with the redevelopment of St. James’ Park.  Hot on the heels of the new Big Bank terrace being opened in March, the famous Cowshed terrace was demolished.  Work is now well under way on the 2,000-seat replacement, which should be ready for the start of the new season.  

Disgruntled Newcastle United fans lost their court action against the Premiership club over plans to move bondholders to different seats when building work on the new stands at St. James’ Park is complete.

The joy for Oxford United in completing the ‘Land Deal’ for their partly built new ground at Minchery Farm was short lived.  In March a High Court judge decided to grant a judicial review into planning permission for a cinema on the site that holds the financial key for the completion of the new stadium.  The hearing will take place this summer causing a further delay on recommencement of building work.  Meanwhile, the club have received a special dispensation from the Football Licensing Authority to continue at the Manor Ground.

  As ever, it never stops at Barnet.  The club are currently upgrading their Underhill ground to a 5,500 capacity with at least 1,000 seats by the 1 August deadline set by the Football League.  This is because they received a special dispensation to operate next season at the ground although it fails to meet the League minimum capacity of 6,000.  Plans have also been submitted to the local council to build a 10,000-seat stadium at Claremont Road, Cricklewood – the current home of Ryman League Hendon.   The planned new stadium will cost £12.7 million and will be funded from various sources including grants and sponsorship deals.  If all goes to plan, both Barnet and Hendon will play at Underhill for the next two seasons whilst the new stadium is constructed.  They will then move into the Claremont Road site for the start of the 2002-03 season.

Chelsea are pressing on with the new West Stand at Stamford Bridge.  Work started in March after a long running planning dispute had left the west side of the ground with a one-tier open seated deck for the last two years.  When work is complete the capacity will be 42,000.

The Secretary of State, who has decided not to call in the plans, approved the scheme for a 25,000-seat stadium for Darlington in April.  The new stadium will be built at Neasham Road.

The disappointing home form of Stoke City since their move to the Britannia Stadium has prompted the club to employ the services of an American based Feng Shui expert.  Amongst measures being considered by the Potteries club to prevent energy escaping are trees, new buildings and changing the clubs colours to red and yellow instead of red and white!

Blackpool, despite relegation to Division Three, have some bright news for their followers as the Seasiders look set to redevelop their out-dated Bloomfield Road ground.  The new scheme would see the pitch moved north-westwards, allowing room for larger east and south stands, whilst the adjacent railway line, which is now part of a massive town centre car park, would form part of a new main stand. It would appear that the planned new stadium on the M55 has been abandoned. 

The end seems nigh for Arsenal’s tenure at their famous Highbury Stadium after it was revealed that the Gunners intend to submit a planning application in October for a £150 million new stadium in the Ashburton Grove area of north London.  The club have suffered in recent seasons due to the fact that they have been unable to increase the Highbury capacity to more than the current 38,200 seats.  The new stadium will be able to house 60,000.

Halifax Town have started work on a new main stand at The Shay.  Bulldozers moved in after the final league game of the season to demolish the former structure in the latest phase of the total redevelopment of the ground.

Lincoln City are set to buy the freehold of their Sincil Bank ground in a move that will secure the future of the club.  The club hope to secure the freehold for £175,000.

Residents living in the terraced houses surrounding Anfield have reacted angrily to plans by Liverpool and the local council to ‘regenerate’ the area with the demolition of 1,600 homes and the expansion of the stadium.  The scheme entitled ‘Anfield Plus’ was hatched between the council, the club and local landlords, but without any input from local residents.  After residents groups took the council to task, it withdrew the plan and set about re-assessing the future plans for the area.  Liverpool FC owns a large number of the terraced houses around the ground and a significant number of these lie vacant.  Local people fear that the club are trying to force down house prices in the area, thus forcing them out, and leaving the club free to expand further.  The club have plans to expand Anfield to a 55,000-seat capacity stadium with a £50 million scheme to rebuild the Main and Anfield Road stands.

Kidderminster Harriers, the newly promoted Conference Champions, may offer naming rights on the Aggborough Stadium to willing sponsors. The justification for the move is that Aggborough is the name of the district in which the ground is located and therefore the sentimental attachment to the name is not there. (Look out for a special feature on the League newcomers in the next Issue)

Aston Villa’s 78-year-old Trinity Road Stand will be demolished this month (June) to make way for a bigger replacement. After the home game against Manchester United on 14 May, the fixtures and fittings were removed before the bulldozers tore down the most recognisable stand facade in the country. Before the United game, Villa fan and leading stadium expert Simon Inglis marked the passing of the stand by placing flowers and a memorial sign on the staircase that leads to the main entrance. The new stand will add 4,000 seats to Villa Park’s capacity although it is unclear how many seats will be ready for use in the new building at the start of next season.

Despite the poor showing of West Bromwich Albion this season, main shareholder Paul Thompson has re-iterated his desire to complete the master plan for redeveloping The Hawthorns by replacing the mid-1960s Rainbow Stand. One quote suggested that work could start next season, but no plans have been finalised.

Gillingham are nearing completion of the new stand on the Redfern Avenue side of Priestfield.  Some seats were brought into use early due to the club’s success in reaching the Division Two Play-Offs at the end of last season.  As the result of a poll of Gills fans the newest addition to the revamped ground will be named the Medway Stand.

Millionaire Terry Brady has unveiled plans to move Swindon Town to a new £37 million stadium as part of his attempted takeover of the troubled Wiltshire club.  Brady wants the club’s new ground to be part of a leisure complex near the M4.

Portsmouth are hopeful that their plans for new 35,000-seat new stadium  will pass through the Government stage of the process without a hitch.  The scheme, named the Pompey Centre, passed the through the local authority without any real problems but they have been this far in the past and still fallen foul of the system.

The Football Trust is shortly to be replaced with a new organisation named the Football Foundation.  Based at the Trust’s Holburn offices, the foundation will concentrate on funding the lower levels of the game.

A new home for British Athletics was announced in late March.  The 50,000 capacity new stadium will be built at Picketts Lock in north-east London.  The stadium will host the 2005 World Athletics Championships which were recently awarded to the nation.  Rumours have circulated that football may find a home at the new stadium with unconfirmed reports of interest from Tottenham Hotspur.