Rebels plan home fit for their heroes

Sam Williams

January 16, 2010

FC United have submitted proposals for their own 4,000-capacity stadium to Manchester council.

Although a final location for the project is yet to be confirmed, the club say they are hoping to complete the planning process before the end of the season.

"We've been working on the business plan for a few months and had meetings with the council before Christmas to talk about our draft proposals," said general manager Andy Walsh.

"The final draft has now been sent in, and we hope to make an announcement about when work will begin in the next few months." Walsh estimates that the stadium will cost around £3-4m to build, and says that funding for the project will come from several sources.

"We'll be using our own resources as well as some grant funding to help us.

"Obviously, it's not the best time financially to be asking for funding, but we're in discussions at the moment."

FC are also keen to ensure that the stadium will be available for other uses as well being as their home ground.

"This is not just for FC United and it's important that the ground is used as a community facility," said Walsh.

"We will consult with local residents, as well as all of our club members, about things such as the name of the ground because we want their input." The Rebels currently play their home fixtures at Bury's Gigg Lane, and have also used Stainton Park in Radcliffe and Altrincham's Moss Lane ground since their formation in 2005.

However, it now appears that they will have their own place to call home in the near future - news that will be warmly received by fans as the club aim to continue climbing the non-league ladder towards the Football League.

The club's determination to own their own ground has received the backing of Sir Richard Leese, leader of the city council, and Walsh believes his support could be crucial.

"He says he wants FC United to stay within the city boundaries, which is good, so now it's down to us," said an optimistic Walsh.

"There's still work to be done before the final plan goes before the councillors, but we're as confident as we can be about it at this stage."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (16/01/2010 at 19:05)

This is great news for us. Funny that not that long ago our regular detractors on here were saying the chances of this happening were pie in the sky. I'll be reminding Dash Walny of this after the first match i go to in our own ground in Manchester. Pretty much confirms that people like him know nothing about all the hard work our club is doing to see this through. The Glazers slow erosion of Utd will mean there is a future for a fan owned club for people with principles based in the city of Manchester available to the local community and welcoming fans from all over who want to support our ideals.

Anthony Holland (17/01/2010 at 10:29)

At last great news. Bury could finally be history. though we are pleased that they have helped us out they are a big drain on our resources.

RCH, Salford (17/01/2010 at 20:43)

Sounds great! Any rumours on a location?

Chris Birks (18/01/2010 at 12:35)

Great news, we can finally get rid of them, hopefully the floating supporters in Bury will support a proper team with history now, rather than sad excuse for a football club. If you really wanted to shove 2 fingers up at Glazier and the football authorities you should have supported your local lower league team, but of course, that way you couln't bask in the glory when Man Utd won a game could you. Its strange to see your attendances falling away when the parent team has found success on the pitch. NOT!
regards,
Shaker

Free Red, Manchester (18/01/2010 at 13:06)

It's good to see our plans for the ground are moving forward. The Board have been working closely with Manchester City Council on the project, but what about our "heroes" (lol) after seemingly having a month off? Well the truth is they have had quite the opposite! Snow, ice and frozen pitches may have prevented FC United from playing competitive football for the last four weeks but the players have been training harder than ever according to assistant manager Roy Soule.

The squad have been undertaking extensive sessions twice a week for the past month indoors at the JJB Soccer Dome and Roy is very pleased with how things have been going. He said: “We’ve been training really hard, doing a lot of fitness and body work to keep the lads sharp and we are quite pleased with how they've all responded. Their attitudes seem to have gone to a new level over the last month or so."

New boys Adriano Rigoglioso, Kyle Jacobs and William Jones have been settling in well despite not being able to make their debuts and Roy says it's been easy for them. "I've known the new lads for some time and they're not strangers to each other. Kyle knows a few of the lads such as Carlos (Roca) and Jerome (Wright) because he played with them at Oldham Athletic.

"I've known Adriano since he was a kid and he’s settling in well and so is Will, the goalkeeper. There's an excellent team spirit within the squad so it's not been a problem for any of them to settle in quickly."

Roy added that there may also been a few more new faces before the end of the season: "Karl and I are always monitoring players, we have been out watching matches and talking to people we know in the game. I have kept an eye on players I have come across on previous scouting jobs I’ve had at other clubs such as Oldham and Huddersfield. There may be a couple more to follow up on depending on their availability."

Despite being happy with the way training has been going, Roy admitted that it counts for nothing until FC United start getting results on the pitch beginning with Stocksbridge Park Steels next Saturday. He said: "You can do all the preparation you want but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

"We know that Stockbridge are a physical side and their pitch will be pretty heavy especially with the recent weather but we should be fitter than them and we should certainly be a lot more eager than them. The lads are really eager to get out there and start winning matches, they’ve trained hard enough now they need to do it for real."

Free Red, Manchester (18/01/2010 at 15:21)

Chris Birks. I've met some really good football fans at Bury FC. I've also met the odd misinformed fan who doesn't realise how much money Bury FC have made out of FC United. The only morons I've met are so stupid they claim not to care about how much money FC United have brought to Bury FC who have allowed their hatred of United fans to cloud their judgment. Then again I've also come across a few spineless cowards who post complete and utter lies on the internet and suck up to gill who, until recently, actually though glazer was good for United. As for other clubs, only a complete idiot or a glazer lackey with an anti-fc agenda would think dispersing our support to any number of other teams none of us have ever supported would in any way shove two fingers up at glazer and the FA and keep the protest against the glazers occupation alive. Oh, and FC United's attendance is up on this time last year.

Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (19/01/2010 at 00:02)

FC United are grateful to Bury FC for allowing us to play there. Just a pity they have the odd balloon as a fan like you are Chris. Maybe the clue with you is contained with your second name?

Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (19/01/2010 at 14:33)

Congratulations to our club!! We are building for the future!!

Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (19/01/2010 at 15:16)

How can you submit a planning application without a location? - funnier and funnier, keep it coming boys while watching your real heroes getting a thumping tonight.

Keith Greenhalgh (19/01/2010 at 17:35)

To RCH Salford

A 'feasability study' has been carried out on an available site , which basically means that 'Yes' a football ground could be built in that location , as for where , not sure but Newton Heath wouldn't come as a great suprise.

Free Red, Manchester (20/01/2010 at 12:49)

Next up, Stocksbridge Park Steels v FC United, Saturday 23rd January 2010 Kick Off 3:00pm. This game is to be played at the Look Local Stadium, Bracken Moor Lane, Stocksbridge, Sheffield, S36 2AN. Admission POTG £7 adults £5 senior citizens £4 over 12s £2 under 12s

Travel: Coach - FC United are running an official coach to this fixture. The coach will depart from Chorlton Street bus station in Manchester City Centre at 12:30pm and return after the game. Prices are: £10 adults £5 under 16s. To book ring the FC United office on 0161 273 8950. Any monies made from official coach travel go directly to club funds.

By Car – From the west on to the A616: Immediately you reach the Stocksbridge Bypass turn right signed (Stocksbridge West), then continue until you reach the shopping centre approx 1.5 miles. 300 yards past the centre you will see Gordons Autos on your Left. Turn Right immediately opposite, signed (Nanny Hill) and continue up the hill for approx 500yds. Ground is on the left.

By car from - M1 junction 36 on to A61 Sheffield to McDonalds roundabout.
From M1 junction 35a on A616 Manchester to McDonalds roundabout. From Mcdonalds roundabout on A616 to Manchester for approx 3 miles . Then take the A6102 exit (Stocksbridge). After � mile turn right at the traffic lights. Then after 0.8 mile turn left (Nanny Hill) this is opposite Gordons Autos. Continue up the hill for approx 500yds, ground is on left.

From M1 by Coach: From M1 junction 36 on to A61 Sheffield to McDonalds roundabout. From M1 junction 35a on to A616 Manchester to McDonalds roundabout. From McDonalds Roundabout on A616 for approx 6 miles then take the Stocksbridge West exit. Then continue until you reach the shopping centre approx 1.5 miles. 300yds past the centre you will see Gordons Autos on your left. Turn right immediately opposite, signed (Nanny Hill) and continue up the hill for approx 500yds.
Ground is on the left.

Train –The nearest station is Penistone which is approximately 3.3 miles away from the ground. Full train details and fares can be found at www.thetrainline.com

Bonner (20/01/2010 at 16:58)

You're right Keith, Newton Heath would be great and it would mean your Andy would be able to walk to the game!

DUB RED, CLONDALKIN (20/01/2010 at 21:51)

Just to let you lot know OT could be on the market soon.

Keith Greenhalgh (22/01/2010 at 21:31)

Bonner..have you gone mad ? You've seen the size of our Andy !! Walking to the chippy is as energetic as he gets..

George Kane, Stretford (27/01/2010 at 16:31)

You have never been a Manchester club,the club you ran away from was nt a Manchester club,you have nt played in Manchester so why should Manchester give you a penny ???????

MANCS TOGETHER, Cheshire. (12/02/2010 at 19:23)

Thank goodness we can now get to keep all our money & not have to support the free-loaders (sorry 3 players) @ Bury. £7,500/game now down to £5,500 but still £4,500 too much. I wish Bury well but we're no longer going to be your cash cow. (Dash - why did you leave Runcorn, Liverpool? Chris - you no nothing if you think we've sponged off Bury when it's more the other way round!) Will the press take notew of us again after 3 years ignoring? How can you ignore a non-league club that gets bigger gates than many above them?

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