We hope our new ground will be an asset to Fisher and our local community, says Fisher chairman

PLANS to bring Fisher Football Club back home to the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe area received a huge boost last week, as a planning application was submitted for the development of the St Paul’s playing field site on Salter Road SE16.

The planning application is the latest stage in bringing plans announced last summer to fruition.

Fisher, the only senior non-league side to represent Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, have sought a return home to the area since 2004.

The development of a brand new football facility at St Paul’s is part of a wider development that will see the derelict former home of Fisher Athletic, the Surrey Docks Stadium, redeveloped with new housing and a public park.

The plans for St Paul’s – opposite the Surrey Docks Stadium on Salter Road – include a FIFA-standard 3G pitch, a clubhouse facility and covered accommodation for seated and standing spectators.

As well as providing a home for Fisher’s first team, the facility will be used by the club’s youth teams and will also be accessible to other local community groups.

Fisher chair Ben Westmancott said in a statement: “The progress that we have been able to make in the last twelve months has been fantastic. Everyone at the club looks forward to the day that we can finally return home to our community, after a decade of enforced exile.

“We still have plenty of work to do and there is a planning process to negotiate too. But we hope that the new ground at St Paul’s can be a real asset not just to Fisher but to everyone in our community.

“It’s really important that this fantastic facility is accessible to other local groups as well as Fisher, and we are working closely with the London FA and other partners to ensure that we achieve that wider benefit.”

The planning application for St Paul’s can be viewed on Southwark Council’s website – go to the web address: http://planningonline.southwark.gov.uk/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=9553355

It is currently in a consultation period and Fisher members, fans and friends can help by writing a letter of support. You can submit letters by email – simply email planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk and be sure to quote the application reference 14/AP/0310.

The current timetable for work on the ground, and the related development at the Surrey Docks Stadium, is for works to begin in the autumn of 2014 – although development on the St Paul’s site may not start until early 2015 in order to minimise possible weather disruptions through the winter.

Works at St Paul’s are expected to take approximately six months to complete.

Mr Westmancott added: “I’d like to thank once again Fairview New Homes Ltd and Southwark Council who have worked positively and constructively with us on this project. We have also received continuing assistance from Supporters Direct, the national organisation that supports and encourages fan-ownership of football clubs.”

Fisher are a supporter owned and run football club, run on a not-for-profit basis.

The club are constituted on a co-operative basis which means that each member of the club holds an equal share and has equal voting rights to everybody else (including the directors and chair).

The club were formed as a continuation of Fisher Athletic FC who were liquidated in 2009.

Fisher currently groundshare at Dulwich Hamlet. As Fisher Athletic the club played at the Surrey Docks Stadium, Salter Road, London SE16 from 1982 to 2004.

Fisher run youth teams from under 7 to under 18 in the Kent Youth League and Selkent League.

Fisher welcome bitter rivals Beckenham Town to Champion Hill on Wednesday night (7:45pm) in the Macron Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Semi-Final First Leg as the reformed club bid to reach their first cup final.

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