Stratford Football Club Relocation

Discussions are taking place between Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Stratford Town Football Club, Precision Antenna Ltd and Warwickshire County Council on the relocation of the football club.

The proposals involve relocating the club to a new site, which is large enough to allow growth and development. The district council and the club, after a review of all potential sites, have identified a site at Knight's Lane, Tiddington owned by Warwickshire County Council, which has agreed in principle to lease the site to the district council. It is hoped that this land will in turn be leased to the football club.

"We have been talking about relocating Stratford Town Football Club for around ten years," said Cllr Juliet Short, the district council's portfolio holder for community services. "This is an excellent example of partnership working and praise is deserved to all those who have been working extremely hard to develop these proposals.

"We are looking to secure funding from external sources including the Football Association Fund. Negotiations are taking place with the county council in terms of the lease and works are on-going to develop layout plans for the area."

Proposals are also being looked into to develop the new site at Tiddington as a regional football community hub to provide training opportunities for young people.

Craig Hughes Chairman of Stratford Town Football Club said: "Although at first we were very concerned at the thought of having to leave Masons Road, we are very excited at the prospect of having better facilities and more space for the footballing community. The football club has agreed an arrangement with Studley Football Club to allow our First Team games to be played there whilst the new ground and facilities are prepared at Tiddington."

The club has in recent years been particularly successful in the growth of it's community football development work such that in 2005/6 it now has 17 teams including 12 youth sides, a ladies team and 3 girls teams.

The current football pitch site at Masons Road is leased to the club by the district council but is surrounded by land used for light industrial purposes. Precision Antenna Ltd is looking to expand with 150 additional staff to be employed.

SDC through its retained valuers and agents are currently considering the options available to SDC to dispose of an interest in the land and property currently occupied under lease by Stratford Town Football Club and by Precision Antennas.  Commercial negotiations are ongoing with Precision Antenna and their agents and any deal that is agreed will be structured to ensure SDC's best fiduciary interests are assured.

John Bachelor, Director of Precision Antenna said: "We are very pleased with the professional way Stratford-on-Avon District Council have handled this delicate situation, as well as the positive response of Stratford Town Football Club. Redeveloping this site will give both job security and opportunity for the local community."