Southwark Council’s cabinet has agreed that the derelict former Surrey Docks
Stadium will make way for a brand new public park and a new astroturf football
facility at the St Paul’s Ground.

The new facility will come as exciting news for Fisher Football Club as it allows
them to return to their home base in Rotherhithe, after moving to play at
Dulwich Hamlet's home ground at Champion Hill in 2006.

As well as the new football facility the regeneration work will also make way
for a brand new public park by Surrey Docks - an addition which is sure to
please many local residents and community groups in the area.

Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and
volunteering, said: “We are really pleased to be able to offer a lovely new
open space for local residents and schools in the area, as well as a fantastic
new football facility for the community and a local club who deserve to have
a home of their own.

"Parks and sports facilities are such an important part of our borough - they
not only encourage everyone to get out and exercise, but they also give
residents a place to socialise in the warmer months."

Her statement continued: "Providing opportunities to access sport and physical
activity in particular, is paramount to the council's recent sports strategy; in
which we pledged to increase the provision of better leisure facilities for all
our residents. Participation in sport in Southwark is improving and so much
has already been achieved with amazing new facilities like the BMX track
and other improvements at Burgess Park, and the new Camberwell Leisure Centre.

"However with many of our children suffering from obesity and almost 70 per cent 
of adults in the borough saying they want to increase their activity levels,
we know there is still more to do. New facilities at the site in Surrey Docks
will be another of our steps towards addressing these issues and getting
Southwark more active."

Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration added:”I'm delighted
to recommend to cabinet this exceptional opportunity to create a brand new
public park from the derelict former Surrey Docks stadium, a new astroturf
football facility and improvements at the St Pauls ground Salter Road, and
allow the return of Fisher FC to its home base in Rotherhithe.

"The development of the adjoining depot site will provide 100 new homes
and a capital receipt to the council for its northern car park site which we
will be able to invest into other improvement projects. It is rare that a
central London local authority is able to provide its community with such
a new large park together with removing a serious blight on the area that
the stadium had become. I'm sure that this will be warmly welcomed by all."

Fisher chairman Ben Westmancott says the club could be playing back in its
roots as early as the start of next season.

He said: "We are delighted to be working with Southwark Council and Fairview
New Homes to bring Fisher FC back home, and particularly welcome the
imaginative, supportive and enlightened approach from both officers and councillors.

“This positive investment in sports infrastructure will enable young people to
play football for their local club in their local community and will act as a force
for good in the area.

"The club was formed back in Bermondsey in 1908 as a community club and
as a club owned and run by the fans, we are proud that this model has been
recognised as one that the council can do business with.

“We are looking forward with eager anticipation to our inaugural game in our
homeland in 2014/15. Thank you to everyone who is making this dream come alive."

Fisher are presently second-from-bottom in the Southern Counties East Football
League table.

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk

Visit Southwark Council’s website: www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/1511/footballs_coming_home__southwark_council_finds_new_site_for_local_team_to_return_to_bermondsey