Kent clubs unveil stadium plans

SEVENOAKS TOWN have released initial plans for the development of Greatness Park.

The plans outline the Southern Counties East Football League club’s vision to convert the main pitch into a state of the art 4G artificial pitch and replace the clubhouse with a significantly better facility to cope with the growing demands on Greatness Park due to both football and the increasing community use.

An integral part of the plans includes improving the overall aesthetics of the park with the introduction of an outdoor gym, a better play park and a grass-crete car park.

A drawing of the plans can be found on the club’s official website:
www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk/club-releases-greatness-park-plans

A club statement said: “More details will be released in the New Year but for now discussions are well underway with all relevant organisations.

“The club will be seeking funding for the project so if you would like to find out more about contributing to the project then please get in touch via the club’s website.”

Rivals, Fisher, announced plans earlier in the month to return to Rotherhithe, playing at the presently disused St Paul’s playing field, which will be turned into a community football facility with a top-of-the-range 3G pitch, allowing the club’s first team and junior sides to return home.

Southwark council have backed the plans and Fisher said in a statement which was published on www.fisherfc.co.uk: “There is still plenty of work ahead, as the club seek to obtain grant funding to supplement funding by Fairview New Homes Ltd, who will be undertaking a development of housing and parkland on the Old Surrey Docks Stadium site.”

Meanwhile, Canterbury City chairman Tim Clark tells supporters of the club to keep the faith.

In a statement, which was published on the club’s website www.canterburycityfc.com, Mr Clark said: “There can be no denying it has been a difficult year for the club.  We finished the 2012-13 season managerless and then the excitement of the planning application proceeding for our new stadium at Ridlands Farm was dashed as it transpired the council had wasted eight years considering a site that was never going to be suitable because of drainage issues. 

“A farce really, embarrassing for the council and hugely frustrating for everyone at the club and me personally having spent what must now be hundreds of hours in meetings, deliberating over business plans and persistently making the case for City’s return home.”

Mr Clark insists he will not give up the fight to bring the Southern Counties East Football League club home.

“Much has been going on behind the scenes since the council pulled out of Ridlands Farm,” he said.

“Driven by the Canterbury City Football Club board we are in negotiations with private sector interests over a possible new location.

“A meeting in very early January could confirm whether, what is now known as Plan B, is a possibility.

“If so all our players, managers, supporters and sponsors can rest assured that plans will be made public just as soon as possible.

“We have of course also secured council backed community funding for up to five years (for which we express our thanks to the council) and we have already achieved one of the aims being the establishment of a girls’ team.

“We are also looking at actively expanding our community homeless projects and these should show fruit in the early part of 2014.”

Visit Canterbury City’s website: www.canterburycityfc.com

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