Jubliant FC United fans are revelling in the news that the dream of having their own ground has become reality.
It was revealed last week that Manchester’s city council has provisionally given the go-ahead for the 5,000 capacity stadium to be built in Newton Heath.
And that decision has been greeted with resounding support from the Rebels’ followers, according to FCUM Radio commentator Keith ‘Keg’ Johnston.
“The feeling among fans I’ve spoken to is one of euphoric giddiness,” said Johnston.
“It’s been a long time coming - a lot of work has gone in up to now but there’s still a lot left to sort out as well.”
Johnston believes that the ground could provide FC with the platform to become a Football League club, and reckons a base of their own will complete the club.
“You’re only really half a club without your own home and this gives everyone involved with the club a focus going forward,” he said.
“To get towards the automatic promotion places in this league, you need a larger playing budget than we’ve got.
“But the ground gives us financial and timescale targets and will open up revenue streams, like match-day catering, that aren’t available at the moment.”
The fact that the ground is to be at Ten Acres Lane is also popular with FC fans, and Johnston is optimistic that the local community will welcome the move.
“There are so many connections and we’ve got roots there already,” he said.
“Hopefully, the community will see the benefits to having FC United based in their area.”
Meanwhile, title contenders Guiseley proved too strong for FC United as they eased to a 2-0 win at Nethermoor Park on Saturday.
The in-form Lions produced an efficient display in blustery conditions to condemn the Rebels to a fifth defeat in their last six games.
“The better team on the day won - they’re a strong side and we found it difficult to match their physicality,” said FC manager Karl Marginson.
Round-up
:: Meanwhile, Hyde's stop-start revival threatened to go into reverse as they were thrashed 4-0 by AFC Telford. Fortunately for the Tigers, neither bottom-two Vauxhall Motors and Harrogate could manage a win, so it now appears they're almost certainly safe from the threat of relegation.
Altrincham's seven-match unbeaten run in Blue Square Premier was ended as a late collapse saw them felled 4-3 at Forest Green, where they'd led 3-1 at the break.
A 40th minute Robbie Williams goal followed by a Shaun Densmore penalty in first-half stoppage-time had given Alty their two-goal interval advantage after Chris Senior had seen his 13th minute opener quickly cancelled out by a Jonathan Smith equaliser.
The hosts then pulled one back through Reece Styche before again drawing level with a 75th minute David Brown spot-kick after Robins defender Greg Young was adjudged to have pushed Mark Preece in the box.
And, with Forest Green now on top, Smith won it when he converted a Jared Hodgkiss cross three minutes later, although Alty sub Colin Little was only denied a dramatic injury-time equaliser by a referee's assistant's flag after the home side had been reduced to 10 men by Brown's late dismissal for time-wasting.
Ashton United halted their UniBond Premier slide with a goals by Matty O'Neill (2) and Craig Robinson giving them a shock 3-2 victory over visiting leaders Bradford Park Avenue.
The Hurst Cross Robins hung on to win despite having keeper Terry Smith sent off for handling outside his area, forcing Gareth Richards to take over in goal.
Mike Norton and Ajay Leitch-Smith each scored twice as Curzon Ashton boosted their UniBond North play-off hopes with a 5-1 rout of struggling Salford, but Leigh remain hot-on-their-heels in sixth place after crushing Garforth 5-0.
Mossley lost 2-1 to leaders Lancaster and Trafford sank 3-0 to second-placed FC Halifax. Radcliffe went down 1-0 at Chorley, but Woodley won 2-1 at rock-bottom Rossendale courtesy of an Antoni Sarcevic brace despite having both Christian Dennis and Tom Blacker sent off.
Ramsbottom failed to stand in the way of Newcastle Town's march to the Vodkat League title as the table-topping Potteries side hit 100 points with a 4-0 romp.
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The talk on the terraces and on the internet is all about the ground. I went down last week for a quick look round. Some of the locals I spoke to were a bit surprised by it all and keen to know what they were getting. Some though it meant they would lose the use of the existing sports hall but when they found out it was getting refurbished and that there would be a new multi use games area as well as a new football club and ground they became enthusiastic about the proposal. Newton Heath no longer have a non-league club since Newton Heath Locomotive folded and the old Ceylon Street ground was made into a housing estate. FC United can now put that right.
Who was you talking to Free Red?, the company I work for has a business based on Briscoe lane and all the people I have spoken to are either unaware of any plans or against it in principle. Can you tell us who is going to foot the bill for this proposal?, because just like the Mythical Red Knights, the ground will stay Mythical if there is no money to build it, or, as I suspect might happen, the objections within the community to having a ground built on this site get more vociferous. Good Luck in this venture by the way, I guess Luck is the one thing you may need.
Duck egg Blue, your obsession with FCUM never ceases to amaze us all.
Johnniejohn, Take no notice of the bitter who lives in a fantasy world of his own making. The locals I spoke to use the centre all the time and they support the scheme.
Dunk - They have to keep interest in the club, you know. Losing 5 of 6 non-league matches does not speak well of the prospects of supporters actually showing up next year at Gigg Lane (for FC Matches).
If you Google map the proposed site the nearest business premises in use on Briscoe Lane are at the other end of it on the opposite side of the railway bridge which goes across Briscoe Lane. There's an industrial estate there before the fire station which is nowhere near the site. Other than some empty business pemises on the Ten Acre Lane/Briscoe Lane junction and a small second hand household appliances shop opposite the empty building there are no business premises within three quarters of a mile of the site on Briscoe Lane. Once again our resident obsessive on here spouting nonsense about FC. If he'd done his research properly he would see that the site is bordered north and south by houses with the bigger estate to the south. East & west is empty land (Newton Heath itself is to the east. To quote the bitter "the company I work for has a business based on Briscoe lane and all the people I have spoken to are either unaware of any plans or against it in principle". I'd take this statement with a very large pinch of salt. The medication must have been wearing off when he typed it.
Si, East Manchester, All the map man knows is the Berties pub formally known as the Gibraltar. Other than that I'm willing to bet he has never set foot in Newton Heath. Like you say Briscoe Lane is practically a vacant site under redevelopment and a good way from Newton Heath town centre and us thank god. Fortunately we’ll be playing our home games when REAL city fans are at away.
Next up, Marine FC v FC United, Friday 2nd April 2010, Kick Off 3.00pm. This game is scheduled to be played at The Arriva Stadium, College Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 3AS, however, Marine's pitch is currently waterlogged. The weather forecast is not good therefore a pitch inspection will take place at 9.30am on Friday morning. The FC United Board has urged FC fans to check official website before setting off for the game.
If the game goes ahead admission will be by ticket only and there will be no tickets on sale on the day of the game. Tickets cost Adults £8 Concessions £4 and are available from Marine FC Clubrooms weekdays from 6pm and all day weekends.
So Oldham, FCUM, and City all very near to each other. Bet the GMP are delighted.