Let's play our part to bring Fisher back home to end 10-year exile!

PLANS to bring Fisher back to Salter Road, Rotherhithe, are advancing with Southwark’s Planning Committee expected to vote on the proposed development in the next two months.

A statement from the Southern Counties East Football League club, that have hired Dulwich Hamlet’s ground at Champion Hill in East Dulwich for ten years, said: “At Fisher, we are very much looking forward to coming home.

“We believe that at the proposed new facility at the St Paul’s playing field, we can start to really rebuild our club as a force for good in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.

“We want a new home for the Fish, but one that can be shared by the community and which will increase the opportunities for local youngsters to participate in football.

“We believe that the proposals for the St Paul’s site and our derelict former home at the Surrey Docks Stadium, will benefit local people.

“Sadly our former home is now an eyesore, attracting anti-social behaviour, while the St Paul’s football pitch has fallen into disrepair.

“If the plans get the go ahead, then the development at the Surrey Docks Stadium will include a new part that is open to the public, while the St Paul’s site will get a comprehensive upgrade including a state-of-the-art 3G pitch, changing rooms and spectator facilities.

“The 3G all-weather surface will allow Fisher to play our first team games back in Rotherhithe while youth and community football activity takes place at other times.

“And of course, the development means Fisher finally come home after 10 years of exile – it is difficult to put into words what this means to the fans who have stuck by their club through some difficult years.  Those fans are now our owners, as Fisher are democratically-controlled by our members.”

If you share this vision and want to help us Bring Fisher FC Home, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Please take the opportunity to write now to Southwark Council, outlining why you support the development on Salter Road.

You should outline why you believe these plans should get the go ahead. 

The club added: “We don’t want to tell you what to write, but we believe that they are a fantastic opportunity for the Rotherhithe community.

“The report that goes to the Planning Committee will be finalised in the next seven days.”

If you want to make your support known, you must act now.

You should reference the planning applications 14/AP/0309 (Surrey Docks Stadium site) and 14/AP/0310 (St Paul’s site) in your email. Send emails to planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk - and please copy in the club using email address BringFisherHome@fisherfc.co.uk.

If you want to make a difference, please make your voice heard by Friday 6th June 2014.

The club added: “We’d also be delighted to hear from local teams and groups who believe that they could make use of the facilities, as it is important that the St Paul’s ground is of benefit to the wider community – though please bear in mind we remain in negotiations with Southwark about the operating model for St Paul’s and so we are limited in what we can commit to at this stage.”

In other news, the club have provisionally scheduled their Annual General Meeting for Saturday 28 June 2014.

Visit Fisher’s website:  http://fisherfc.co.uk/2014/06/03/we-need-your-help-to-bring-fisher-fc-home/