GT22 (Autumn 2000)

MARGATE/ RAMSGATE - The proposed joint stadium for the two East Kent clubs appears to be dead in the water following Sport England’s rejection of a £900,000 funding application.  Thanet Council, who had previously backed the scheme, have as a result withdrawn their support for the 12,000 capacity stadium project, which they now consider to be financially unviable.   The news has been broadly welcomed by the fans of both clubs, who as well as fearing an eventual merger, were   also were unhappy at the prospect of losing their traditional grounds at Hartsdown Park (Margate) and Southwood (Ramsgate).                  

BARROW - The Holker Street stand at the Unibond League club’s ground has been closed off after structural engineers revealed it to be unsafe.  Containing a mixture of seats and standing cover, the ancient structure is the only part of Holker Street to have remained unchanged since the club’s Football League days.   A decision has not yet been made on whether to repair or demolish the ageing stand (Pictured in magazine – Vince Taylor).

BAMBER BRIDGE - Work is progressing on a new £250,000 grandstand at the Irongate ground.  The old terracing on the railway side of the Unibond League club’s ground has been demolished to make room for the 500-seat structure, which is due for completion in October.   Funding to the tune of £140,000 has been provided for the project by the Football Trust, which also includes new dressing rooms, a boardroom, a treatment room and other facilities.

FLEETWOOD FREEPORT - The North West Counties League outfit have taken delivery of a consignment of plastic tip-up seats courtesy of near neighbours Blackpool.  The seats have become available as a result of the redevelopment work at Bloomfield Road, and will replace the wooden benching currently in use in the Highbury Avenue outfit’s stand.  

MAIDSTONE UNITED - The resurrected, former Football League club have revealed they have two locations in mind for a proposed new ground.  Presently members of the Kent County League, they are based at the training ground of their old London Road set-up - a neatly railed off enclosure (pictured in magazine), but too cramped to be developed any further.  Hoping for a swift return to senior football, the Stones will look to secure a temporary groundsharing agreement if they win promotion to the Kent League at the end of the 2000-2001 season.

LANGNEY SPORTS - The newly promoted Dr Martens League side have been busy during the summer carrying out extensive improvements to their already impressive Priory Lane ground.   In addition to a new 300 seat stand (large photo), the existing covered terracing has been extended and now stretches the whole length of one side where it links up to another section of new covered terracing behind the far goal (see photo in magazine).   Space has been left to increase the seating capacity to 500 when the need arises, by which time the Sussex club will have a ground up to Conference standard.  What is especially commendable in Langney’s case is that a small team of voluntary helpers has carried out all the work at Priory Lane.   

NORTHWICH VICTORIA - Shareholders at the Nationwide Conference club have agreed to sell their historic Drill Field home in order to clear debts believed to amount to over £500,000.    The 2000-2001 season is likely to be their last at the venue, which has been their home since 1875, making it the oldest continuously used football ground in the world.  Discussions are to take place with neighbours Witton Albion with a view to sharing their Wincham Park ground while a new stadium is built. 

NANTWICH TOWN - The Dabbers are preparing for what they hope will be their last season at Jacksons Avenue.  A new Unibond League standard stadium on the Chester side of the Cheshire town should be ready for the start of the 2001-2002 season.

ABBEY HEY - Vandals are continuing to pose headaches for the Goredale Avenue club.  Ahead of a ground-grading visit in April, only 20 out of a total of 120 seats were in use after an arson attack on their stand.  Fortunately, the seats were repaired in time, saving the North West Counties side from relegation to Division Two.

DARTFORD - The Department of Environment have thrown out plans for a multi-million pound leisure complex at Stone, which would have included a new stadium for the homeless Kent club.  Currently based on the other side of the River Thames at Purfleet’s Ship Lane ground, the Darts’ hopes now hinge on an appeal against the decision, or failing that, the submission of a modified set of proposals.

BOOTLE - The North West Counties League side have moved into the Kirkby Sports Centre after vacating their former Bucks Park ground at the end of last season.  Not long after their departure, vandals burnt down the seated stand at the now abandoned Bucks Park ground (pictured in magazine).   Having been relegated to Division Two, Bootle will have to arrange for floodlights to be installed at the currently lightless Kirkby Sports Centre if they are to regain their place in the top flight.          

CIRENCESTER TOWN - With their new ground at Kingshill Lane not scheduled for completion until the 2001-2002 season, The Dr Martens League side hope to continue playing at their present Tetbury Road until Christmas, after which they will look to secure a temporary groundsharing agreement.

BISHOP AUCKLAND - Local papers in the north east have been reporting that the Co. Durham club will arrange a groundshare for the second half of this season when their current Kingsway home is demolished. They then hope to move into a new purpose-built stadium next season.

MALTBY MAIN - After failing to carry out a set of improvements insisted upon by the Northern Counties East League grading authorities, chief amongst which was the laying of hard standing around their Muglet Lane ground (pictured below – Pete Miles), the South Yorkshire club have been demoted to Division One.

CHELMSFORD CITY - Plans for a £3 million stadium on a 14.8-acre site on the north east edge of the Essex town were formally handed in to Chelmsford Council planners at the end of July.  The stadium will initially have 1,000 seats and terracing for 3,000 spectators and is situated to the north of the current A12 Boreham by-pass and main railway line.  The Dr Martens League club will raise the money for the project themselves, with assistance from Football Trust grants and Lottery contributions.  The land for the new stadium is being leased at a peppercorn rent from Countryside Properties, the developers of City’s former ground at New Writtle Street.  Currently groundsharing at Billericay Town, provided council approval is received by May of 2001, City hope to be kicking off at their new stadium in February 2002.

ENFIELD -The homeless Ryman League will be lodging at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park ground during the 2000-2001 season.  While the search for a permanent new ground continues, discussions are to take place about the possibility of developing Brimsdown Rovers’ basic Goldsdown Road to Ryman League Premier Division standard.

WALSALL WOOD - A new roof has been fitted to the main stand at Oak Road after West Midlands League officials condemned it as unsafe.  Concerns about the stand and the general condition of the ground saw the club relegated from the Premier Division and the end of the last term, a decision that is being contested by the club who are to appeal to the Football Association.

TOOTING &  MITCHAM UNITED - The 2000-2001 season is likely to be United’s last at Sandy Lane.  The Ryman League club hope to be playing at their new ground at Bishopsford Road some time in 2001.

KINGS NORTON TOWN - As expected, the Midland Alliance club folded during the summer after hopes of returning to their own Triplex ground foundered on their inability to install floodlights.  Since winning promotion to the Midland Alliance, the club has played at Redditch United and Sandwell Borough.  Plans to groundshare at Alvechurch fell through when they were unable to secure the 7-year lease agreement that is now an Alliance stipulation.

EASTWOOD TOWN - As part of an on-going programme to upgrade the facilities at the Unibond League club’s Coronation Park ground, the seating capacity has been increased by the addition of a smart new grandstand (pictured in magazine).  Fitted out with eye catching black and white tip-up seats, the new structure is sited next to the recently opened clubhouse and dressing room complex.    

ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX) - The Ryman League new boys have pulled out the stops to bring their basic Short Lane ground up to standard.  A neat 100-seat stand (pictured in magazine) has been erected on the airport side of the ground, while the existing standing shelter has been fitted out with extra terracing.   The venue has been completely enclosed and additional terracing laid at the Short Lane end. 

SOLIHULL BOROUGH - Damson Park (pictured in magazine) staged its first match in August as Borough returned to Solihull after a ten-year period in exile.  Planning permission to covert the Damson Parkway golf driving range and conference centre into a football ground was received by the Dr Martens League club in June 1999, thus ending a decade long search for a new ground.  Their previous set-up at Widney Stadium was sold for redevelopment in 1988, after which refuge was found at Moor Green and Redditch United. Located close to the M42 and Birmingham International Airport, Damson Park features a 227 seat grandstand, on top of which space has been left for hospitality boxes which will seat a further 50 spectators.  The former driving range shelter has been altered to provide standing cover for 700, while plans are in hand to build an extra covered stand for 400 opposite the main stand. 

TELFORD UNITED - Contingency plans to use Worcester City’s St George’s Lane ground for the early part of the season were put in place by the Nationwide Conference club as work continued on the rebuild of Bucks Head, which was virtually razed to the ground during the summer. The new north and east terraces were nearing completion as the new season approached, while work had begun ahead of schedule on the south terrace.  The £9 million project will also see the construction of a three-tier stand, a swimming pool, executive boxes, health and fitness suites and an 89-bedroom hotel, by which time the ground will have a capacity of 6,778 with seating for 2,510.

SHEFFIELD FC - An extensive series of improvements is underway at the Yorkshire club’s new Coach & Horses ground.  Formerly the home of Dronfield United (pictured in magazine), the ground is undergoing a drastic transformation as a new grandstand, additional standing cover, hard standing, new dressing rooms and a set of floodlights take shape.  In addition, the large grass bank that runs along the touchline opposite the Coach & Horses public house is to be moved back in order to widen the pitch.  Despite being the oldest football club in the world, until now Sheffield FC have never possessed a permanent ground of their own. October has been pencilled in as a moving in date, until such time the Northern Counties East League club will continue to play at Don Valley Stadium.    

 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN - After losing their appeal against the Ryman League decision to deny them promotion to Division One last season, the West Herts club have spent the close season ensuring the some thing doesn’t happen next spring.  The temporary stands that failed to find official favour last time round have been replaced by permanent structures, in addition to which the clubhouse has been extended and other off the field facilities improved.  The club’s future at Vauxhall Road has also been secured after a ten-year lease deal was agreed with ground owners English Partnerships.