PLANS to build a £3m stadium in Ashton under Lyne have been given the go-ahead - after more than five years of tough negotiating between the town's two football teams.
Ashton United, of the Unibond League Premier Division, and North West Counties side Curzon Ashton have agreed to sell their existing grounds and share a new stadium in time for the start of next season.
The 4,000 capacity stadium, which will be built on an open land site in Richmond Street, will also include facilities for community use, including an all-weather pitch and study centres, providing literacy and numeracy education.
The move, funded jointly, by Tameside council and the Football Foundation, comes three years after a bitter fall-out which saw Ashton United abandon the ground-share plan.
Since then, both sides have worked hard to resurrect the deal and believe a new stadium will prove hugely beneficial to both clubs and the wider community.
John Milne, vice-chairman of Ashton United, said: "There was a lot of unhappiness about the proposals when the idea of a ground-share was first suggested, but the Football Foundation was not on board then and I think this is a new and positive venture."
Harry Galloway, chairman of Curzon Ashton said: "We are absolutely delighted. The new ground and accompanying facilities are really going to benefit the community of Ashton."
Coun Roy Oldham, leader of Tameside Council, said "There have been difficulties. It's not been easy to getting the two teams to ground-share, but I'm very pleased to see these differences have been resolved."
Dave Richards, chairman of the Football Foundation, added: "Both clubs sharing a state of the art stadium makes great sense. In addition, I hope the study centres will help improve literacy and numeracy among pupils who can often feel overawed by traditional education and a formal classroom setting."
Ashton's Hurst Cross ground and Curzon's National Park stadium will now be sold off and could make way for industrial and residential developments.
Comments
Login or Register to comment
I'm a Curzon fan and I think it's a good idea because both grounds are showinbg their age a bit. Just as long as United don't think they can get their hands on our centre forward Josh.
The suggestion arose on the Belle Vue forum that the old stadium should be used as a new home for the Aces. Is this viable? What do people think?
I am a speedway fan and when this plan came up I wonder whether it would be feasible to incorporate a track within in the design. Speedway is a summer sport March to October and making full use of the facilities would make sense to all concerned . Any thoughts ??
The Belle Vue Aces are the world's most famous speedway team and they may need a new home in the near future.It would be an excellent idea for the Aces to possibly share the aforementioned stadium.The Aces have in all probability the 2004 world champion and are my tip for Elite league honours this season.The proposed site of this stadium would be of benefit to all concerned,including the local council by way of increased profile concerning live elite league matches.The origins of the sport can be traced back to the locally known Snipe area to 1928,what a coup that would be for the council to help the Aces out at minimal cost and maximum publicity.That to me makes good sense.