The old covered terrace at Park View Road was demolished in July in readiness for the construction of a new 580-seat stand. In what is almost certainly a first at an English football ground, tenants and fellow members of the Dr Martens League Erith & Belvedere are hoping to preserve their identity by building their own club offices and social facilities within the stand. Costing £550,000, £300,000 of which has come from the sale of Erith’s former Park View ground, the stand is scheduled to take 20 weeks to complete.

BALDOCK TOWN (ex Dr Martens League)

The 112-year old club folded during the summer after losing their Norton Road ground following a long running dispute with the local council concerning unpaid rent. The lease of the Norton Road ground has been taken up by Ryman League club Hitchin Town, who are planning to base their football academy operation at the ground.

Having won promotion to the Midland Combination Premier Division, Solihull based SHIRLEY TOWN and Worcester side COUNTY SPORTS, both of whose grounds are without lights have secured groundshares at Kenilworth Town and Pershore Town respectively. Shirley Town in the meantime are to fight Solihull BC’s decision not to allow lights at their Tilehouse Lane ground. WOLVERHAMPTON UNITED will be based at Wednesfield’s Amos Lane ground for the coming season following their promotion to the West Midlands League Premier Division. Having been denied permission for floodlights at their own Prestwood Road West ground, United will seek to move to a new ground of their own if they cannot persuade the local council to reverse their decision. NORTHFIELD TOWN have accepted voluntary relegation to the Midland Combination Division One after finding the cost of renting Oldbury Stadium too expensive. They will return to their own ground in Shenley Lane, which does not have lights. SANDWELL BOROUGH, who were the main tenants of Oldbury Stadium, folded during the close season. Formerly members of the Southern League, they had been playing in the Midland Alliance. West Midlands League club BRIERLEY HILL TOWN have moved out of the Dell Sports Stadium after merging with West Hagley to become BRIERLEY & HAGLEY ALLIANCE. They will now be based at Halesowen Harriers’ Hayes Park ground. Moving out of Hayes Park at the same time are Midland Combination side BLACKHEATH INVENSYS. They are to return to their unlit ground at Cakemore Road for financial reasons.

ROYSTON TOWN (Spartan South Midlands League)

The former Isthmian League side have revealed plans for a new ground at Ivy Farm, close to the A505 Royston by-pass. The new stadium would be funded by the sale of their current Garden Walk ground and built to Ryman League specifications. A public meeting revealed strong support in favour of the new ground and a developer has already expressed an interest in buying the present ground. An application for planning permission is now being prepared, with the Crows hoping to move into the new ground by the start of the 2003-2004 season.

MERSTHAM (Combined Counties League)

An application has been placed before Reigate & Banstead Council’s planning committee for a new 150-seat stand. At present covered accommodation at the Surrey club’s Albury Road is limited to a small stand, which since the realignment of the pitch to facilitate the installation of floodlights, has been marooned behind one goal.

CHELMSFORD CITY (Dr Martens League)

Outline planning permission has been granted for the Essex club’s proposed new stadium at Beaulieu Park, Boreham. A more detailed application is to be submitted to Chelmsford BC in the next few months, and if everything goes to plan preliminary work on the ground could start by the early part of 2002. In the meantime City will continue to groundshare at Billericay Town’s New Lodge ground.

GUISELEY (Unibond League)

Guiseley are reportedly talking to Keighley RLFC about the possibility of moving to the rugby club’s Cougar Park ground. Though six miles distant, the superior facilities at Cougar Park would benefit Guisley who have been frustrated by Leeds City Council’s refusal to let them upgrade their Nethermoor headquarters, the lease on which only has two years to run. The original plans for a new Wharfedale ‘super club’, which would have included a new ground elsewhere in the town appear to have fallen through following a dispute over the ownership of the proposed site at High Royds Hospital. Nethermoor meanwhile has replaced Stanton Ilkeston as the home ground of Castlefield Blues, the ladies’ team featured in the BBC TV series ‘Playing The Field’.

A steel fence has been erected around Town’s Greatness Park ground (see below) and new changing rooms built in one corner of the ground as the club strives to achieve a Kent League grading. Plans are also in hand to build extra stands and install floodlights.

EVESHAM UNITED (Dr Martens League)

Evesham’s 11-year long search for a new ground appears to be over. Local councillors have given permission for the Worcestershire club to move to a site the west of the town, off Cheltenham Road. It is hoped that the new stadium will be in operation by the start of the 2002-2003 season.

BISHOP CLEEVE (Hellenic League)

After encountering problems obtaining planning consent for floodlights at their Kayte Lane ground, the newly promoted Cheltenham based side have arranged to groundshare with Evesham United for the first part of the season.

NANTWICH TOWN (North West Counties League)

The Dabbers have completed the sale of their Jacksons Avenue ground for a sum in excess of £1 million. Side-by-side planning applications have been submitted to build houses at Jacksons Avenue and to build a new stadium at Kingsley Fields on the north-west side of the Cheshire town. The club expect to continue at Jacksons Avenue for at least another two seasons.

BRIGG TOWN (Northern Counties East League)

Despite winning the league, the Zebras were refused promotion to the Unibond League when £60,000’s worth of improvements, including a new 300-seat stand and cover for a further 300, were not completed in time. Ironically, the beneficiaries of Brigg’s misfortune are NCEL runners-up Ossett Town, who are promoted after suffering a similar fate two seasons ago when their Dimple Wells ground was deemed unacceptable by the Unibond League.

BARNET (Nationwide Conference)

The recently relegated ex-Nationwide League side have signed an agreement with Leyton Orient to groundshare at Brisbane Road should they gain promotion at the end of the current season. Their present 5,500 capacity Underhill ground does not meet Nationwide League requirements, so they have taken the precaution of making contingency arrangements. Efforts meanwhile are continuing to extend the capacity at Underhill, or failing that to find a site for a new ground.

NORTHWICH VICTORIA (Nationwide Conference)

The Vics have been given the go-ahead to proceed with plans for a new ground at Wincham, not far from the ground of local rivals Witton Albion. They intend to raise the finance for the new ground by selling their present Drill Field base for redevelopment.

FORD UNITED (Ryman League)

The Essex club will be returning to their roots following a hold-up in their proposed move to Barkingside. Arrangements have been made to play their early season matches at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground, which until 1955 was the home of Briggs Sports, the predecessors of the present Ford United. Ford were forced to leave Rush Green Road, their home for the past 46 years, at the end of last season because the terms of their lease did not meet Ryman League requirements. They hurriedly set up a deal to take over the Oakside ground of Essex Senior League side Barkingside, but the handover has been dogged by contractual wrangles that have so far denied the club the opportunity to carry out the necessary improvements to the facilities and playing surface.

CAMBRIDGE CITY (Dr Martens League)

The first phase of a series of developments designed to bring Milton Road up to Nationwide Conference standard has been completed with the erection of a 100-seat stand extension. Also housing hospitality boxes, the extra seats take the overall seating capacity over the 500 threshold. Work has also begun on upgrading the covered terrace on the far side of the ground.

The Robins, whose cramped Moss Lane home could hinder their progress in the future, are watching with interest plans by a consortium of local businessmen to build a £20 million community sports complex on a site to the south of the M56. The proposals, which at present are being opposed by Trafford Council, include a 15,000 all-seater stadium, a 5,000-seat athletics stadium, a golf course and a tennis and leisure centre.

STAND ATHLETIC (North West Counties League)

Ewood Bridge, the former home of Haslingden, will again host NWCL football this season following Stand’s promotion from the Manchester League. Though based in Whitfield, north Manchester, the club has been unable to develop its George Street ground and they have taken up residence ten miles away at Haslingden. Ewood Bridge is a well-equipped ground set in a hollow, and has a small stand, cover behind one goal, and floodlights.

BIGGLESWADE TOWN (Spartan South Midlands League)

The delightful green and white timber stand that has been a familiar landmark at Fairfield Road for many years has made way for an altogether more modest modern replacement. The new structure was put in place after the original stand and the two adjoining sections of cover were condemned and pulled down a year or so ago.

SHEFFIELD (Northern Counties East League)

The world’s oldest football club celebrated the official opening of their new Coach & Horses ground at Dronfield at the end of July. Tom Pendry, the chairman of the Football Foundation, and Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport, were present for a friendly fixture against a Manchester United XI watched by a crowd of 1,200.

WEALDSTONE (Ryman League)

The Government Office for London has given its consent to Wealdstone’s plans for a community sports and leisure facility at the site of the former Prince Edward Playing Fields at Canons Park that will include a 3,000 capacity football stadium. With the final planning hurdle out of the way, the Stones are now concentrating on raising funds for the £4 million project.

HAMS HALL (Midland Combination)

The club, who had one of the best grounds at Division One level, folded in the closed season. At present it is unclear who, if anyone, will take on the ground, which is in a remote position on the Hams Hall Business Park near Coleshill in Warwickshire. The ground is equipped with a solid cover and a decent clubhouse.

STOURPORT SWIFTS (Dr Martens League)

Tiptree could be leaving their Chapel Road headquarters after plans were announced for a new £1.2 million sports complex at Brook Meadows, off Perry Road. As well as a football stadium with a 250- seat stand and viewing gallery, the new facility would include a full range of leisure and entertaining amenities, and also provide for a number of other sports such as snooker, badminton and indoor bowls. Finance for the project will come from the sale of the north Essex club’s current Chapel Street ground. The plans are now set to go before the relevant authorities.

ENFIELD TOWN (Essex Senior League)

Disgruntled Enfield supporters frustrated by the lack of progress in finding a new ground for the homeless Ryman League club have formed a new club. Enfield Town will be based at Brimsdown Rovers’ Goldsdown Road ground. Though basic, Goldsdown Road has the virtue of falling within the London Borough of Enfield, unlike Ryman League Enfield’s current temporary home at Borehamwood.

MEIR KA (Midland Combination)

Meir will start the season groundsharing at North West Counties League side Stone Dominoes’ Springbank Park ground. After improvements including a stand and re-laid drainage are completed at Meir’s Hilderstone Road, both clubs will relocate to Meir.

BILSTON TOWN (Dr Martens League)