Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

Macca, surely we have funding for redevelopment of the current ground in place in the form of a grant from the Football League or whoever. If that was to be put towards a new ground then the cost to the club may only be about 4 million. I think MFC's new ground is only costing in the region of 6 mill and they are getting corporate and leisure facilities built in, so that recoups some of that money. The current site, as others have said - is too close to residents and to be honest, I cannot see the residents on the Whinney Hill side being too impressed when the work starts there. After all, they will have to pay to see a footie match. I still stand by what I said in an earlier post, we need to move to an area where housing would not be a problem. The only problem we have now is WHERE? The other problem is, who owns Accy Amateurs ground and how much would it cost. If it is bigger then that would be a great place to rebuild a new ground and convert the FES into car parking facilities. Either way it needs looking at now. Otherwise, we are going to get left behind.

Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

Accy amatuers Ground is currently on 25 year lease to them from the council, but as I understand it, there is still some way to go before this lease runs out.

Other problems with that site are, relocation of the existing 15 or so teams that play regularly on there and the fact that although it is one of the better grounds at sunday football level, the drainage isn't good and the pitches are regularly waterlogged. That particular problem is solvable but I would imagine it would mean ripping both pitches up, laying new drains, and then returfing or seeding of the pitches. Add to that the fact that one of the clubs that use the facility has a major attitude problem towards Stanley then you get some spanners in your workings!!!

Plus the biggest problem we'll always have anywhere near our current site is the residents (kisser exempt!!!) who will always continue to moan profusely.

Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

From memory there is about 12 years left on the Amateurs lease, maybe it could be paid off I don't know. But if it can't then it is a plan for the future. I think that a road built out of the back of the site onto Whinney Hill itself would a viable solution to traffic and the fact that the entire site would be three times bigger would mean car parking not being an issue.

If built as an entire complex then it would be housed inside its own perimeter and would have its own facilities for food and drink. A lot of the residents real concerns would disappear and then they would be left with ridiculous things to moan about that aren't legitimate and would not be taken seriously by us or the Council.

I think that the site we are on now is big enough. There is room to go back on the Clayton End, Whinney Hill stand, Coppice Stand and on the Main stand side. But only if all facilities at the Crown/main side are rehoused as part of a larger feature on the Amateurs side.

All irrelevant at the moment but I still think is worth considering for the future because the future will come soon enough.

I dont think there is a real site in Accrington itself that could be used, so we would be left taking more greenfield sites or moving to the outskirts of the borough. Neither are ideal.

Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

I was just thinking.....Huncoat? There is a site, I believe.

Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

mostly allocated for the new recycling plant. Still room next to it - but not as much. Also Huncoat residents are currently up in arms about imminent plans for a new indutrial estate going right back over those fields in that location.

Re: Stadium Redevelopment / Relocation ?
 

While we're all absorbed with each other's sportsground steelwork, here's a timely warning.

Halifax Town AFC have (as most of you know) the finest display of useless ferrous architecture in the Conf . . . , er, sorry, Blues Queer league, which edifice is known disaffectionately as the East Stand.

For several years both Town and Halifax Rugby League (ground sharers) have skirted round the problem whilst indulging in a lot of window-dressing - if you'll pardon the frockshop allusions - and publicly asking their landlord Calderdale Council (= Hyndburn) to foot the bill.

Eventually Calderdale decided to do it, and this week they appointed a Local Government Officer to oversee this simple piece of structural engineering.

He's only temporary staff, of course, which is why he's been given a two-year contract at only £52,000 p.a.

That's right. £104,000 of me-and-my-neighbours' cash to sort out something which the average 13-year old boy with a Meccano outfit and a slide-rule could achieve during the school holidays.

The warning is, therefore, remember Calderdale and don't let Hyndburn get involved unless you want to see your council tax trebled.