High hopes for new Chasetown grandstand

Jul 22 2010 Charlotte Paxton

Now £2m needed to boost facility

Plans for a new 500-capacity grandstand at Chasetown FC have been given a kickstart by council planners after they gave the £2 million scheme the thumbs-up.

Work will begin, as soon as funding is in place, to create a 500-seat grandstand, club shop, changing rooms and offices at the Scholars Ground, in Chasetown.

It is hoped that the much-needed work will be completed by summer 2012 at the latest.

The ambitious plans, which have been in the pipeline for almost two years, were given the go-ahead by planning chiefs at Lichfield District Council last week.

In the past, the club - which currently caters for around 2,000 fans - has been forced to erect expensive temporary seating for high-profile matches.

Mike Joiner, chief executive of Chasetown FC, said the plans heralded a ‘new chapter’ for the club, which was recently promoted to the Evo-Stick League Premier Division.

“I am so pleased for the supporters, players and the club as a whole,” he said.

“This has taken 18 months to two years of negotiations with the district council.

“This is a new chapter for us, but although I am pleased we have secured planning permission I know we still have to get the £2 million to fund the project.

“This is not just for Chasetown FC, it is for the whole community.”

Earlier this month, the club warned they would be ‘unable to carry on’ if planning permission was not given for the development.

A planning statement submitted by the club said: “If new facilities are not provided the club will simply be unable to take up the promotion.

“This will deter fans and make attracting new players increasingly more difficult. The club will then eventually wither and die.”