Dumbarton have finally announced the name of their brand new stadium; The Strathclyde Homes Stadium. Strathclyde Builders paid a six-figure sum to have this name on the Sons' new ground for life. The new stadium was scheduled to be opened on the 2nd of December with a home game against league rookies Elgin City.
The completion of the stadium was delayed on numerous fronts. Included in the list of obstacles that have delayed, delayed and delayed again the unveiling of Scotland's newest ground were the gaining of consent to rid the area of lindane contamination and also the added headache of the impact of September's fuel dispute, a hazard that delayed both the raw materials needed to finish the stadium and the workers themselves. The actual laying and bedding in of the pitch also proved problematic. While the ground was ready in time for an earlier opening, a cancelled council meeting prevented a safety certificate being granted in order to meet the previous November 18th date, and another meeting, which was expected to grant the necessary documentation could not be convened until the 9th of November.

Falkirk have found themselves once more in an unenviable position regarding getting away from decrepit Brockville amid rumours that Stirlingshire Council had passed an application to build a leisure park on land adjacent to the proposed site for the new ground at Westfield. An initial application to the council by Falkirk included such an idea, and that was vetoed out of hand. Whatever the issue with regards to the stadium, the Bairns' main focus is achieving an SPL place, the cash cow of the Scottish game. It is still believed that Falkirk could have the new stadium in place by the start of the season, but not in time to meet the stringent - and non-negotiable - deadline that is in place. On this subject, Falkirk chairman Martin Ritchie said, "Our belief is that while work on a new stadium should be under-way, it would not be completed by March 31st. It is the Board's intention to make a short-term arrangement to play in a stadium that meets SPL criteria, pending completion of our own new facility." The SPL are not keen to discuss a ground-sharing idea and would want to see real progress being made by the club with their own stadium. The club has received an offer for Brockville from a supermarket group and it is hoped that a deal can be struck within the next few weeks. Planning permission for the 10,000 seater stadium at Westfield has been granted and there is a shortlist of two contractors to carry out the construction work. There is work that needs to be carried out at Falkirk's expense, including landscaping, the construction of car parks and road (and other infrastructure) upgrades and this form of 'planning gain' (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours) is perhaps one way that the proposal got past the application approval stage. The club are currently addressing ways of bridging the shortfall between the money obtained from selling Brockville and the cost of building a new ground, and these include working closely with the council. The leisure development granted for Westfield will in fact incorporate the football ground, but grievances raised by Bairns fans centre solely on the fact that so many previous applications were rejected, risking the future of Falkirk FC, and the chance of senior football at the highest level in the town.

Falkirk currently has two league teams within it (with Camelon playing junior football), but for how much longer? East Stirlingshire, who play at archaic Firs Park in the town, are reportedly considering moving on. Two years ago, a deal was struck with Stenhousemuir for an even groundshare at Ochilview, with East Stirling building a stand as part of the deal of buying into Ochilview, but this idea was shelved soon afterwards. Now seemingly the club is currently looking at the costs of upgrading Grangemouth Stadium, previously home to a few junior football teams, to the level required by the Scottish League. Grangemouth Stadium, which has an athletics track, has a fairly large bench seated stand and three other terraced sides. In fact, it is not unlike the Warout Stadium in Glenrothes. Grangemouth Stadium is generally used for athletics meetings and was constructed by BP as a means of giving something back to the town. Hopefully there'll be more news on this breaking story by the next issue. (Photo by Colin Peel)

Clyde announced plans on the 9th of November to add a £4.2 million fourth stand to Broadwood, bringing it up to a capacity of 10,000. This new fourth stand will also come with an indoor facility with a six lane seventy metre track and a half size indoor football pitch. Clyde chairman Ronnie MacDonald revealed that the plans were based upon ideas utilised by the football academies at Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Gateshead. Speaking of the development he said, "This will be for the community of Cumbernauld and will make Broadwood busy every day of the week."

Work is also progressing healthily on Hamilton Academicals new stadium, with work on the stands well under way.