The £3.5m development, complete with clubhouse and pitches, was given the go-ahead by Manchester city council despite fierce opposition from protesters concerned about potential noise and traffic. But Marginson assured those against the move to the club’s new home at Ronald Johnson playing fields that the new arrivals would make good neighbours.
“The council has obviously seen the benefits of what we can offer the area,” he said.
“I understand where protesters are coming from. If somebody came to my house and said they were going to build a stadium across the road, I’d have a few questions.
“But having known FC United since the start I can assure the Moston community that this is not a club that makes false promises. We will do all we have said.
“I’d urge them to get behind the stadium because it will lead to a brighter future for the area.”
And Marginson believes the new stadium will see the Rebels flourish.
“We’ve laid the foundations of the club – but the Moston stadium will really allow us to build on our success,” he said. “From a football point of view we’ve never had our own dressing room and space to congregate.
“It will really help the bonding within the squad and the relationships in the team. It will build strength and depth within FC United, not just in the first-team, but the youth set-up which has always been really important for us.
“We’re going to work with Moston Juniors and other junior teams in order to build a pathway.
“If they aren’t picked up by league sides they can come and play for FC United.” Tweet
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The question is will the near neighbours be good. Based on what I've seen so far from a small minority I doubt it.
Great article and words of wisdom spoken from Karl Marginson.
Shame it is hidden away in the non league sports section and not on the main news forum.
FC United have proved how much they care about the 'Moston community' by not listening when the vast majority of the community made it clear they did not want the stadium on their green fields!!! And this is a club that professes that it is for the community? every Tax payer in Manchester should be questioning why the council is funding this stadium with their money, whilst cutting essential services.
But Marjory's missing the main point in his MEN comments here isn't he.
FCUM stadium in Moston = ok. FCUM stadium build on parkland = not ok.
For a lot of objectors this hasn't ever been an anti-FCUM argument (much as those in favour of the stadium would have people believe it has been) it has been an ANTI-BUILD-IN-THE-PARK argument. Yet time after time after time, this point is conveniently lost / ignored.
I have never been anti-FCUM in Moston and despite all of the verbal mudslinging there has been over the months between the 'yes' and 'no' camps I am still not anti-FCUM in Moston. However, a brownfield site should have been used for their development.
The city of Manchester (within whose boundary FCUM said they wanted to build - they didn't ever specify a particular district) is full of brownfield sites crying out for attention. One is just down the road from the RJPF itself, on Dean Lane. Going down that route might have caused the realisation of the stadium dream to take a bit longer, but with the right will a brownfield site could have been found and a less controversial build achieved. The only reason FCUM are building in Broadhurst Park - on prime park land - is because Manchester City Council audaciously nominated the land to them (due to all their funding and promises complications to MJFC at the time) and once led there (to the trough) FCUM (the horse) continued to (unquestioningly) drink.
By definition FCUM cannot be 'good neighbours' to people who don't want the stadium built in Broadhurst Park in the first place - it's just going to be complete anathema to them. The stadium and its surrounding car park areas, astro turf pitches, floodlighting etc, etc, will be an everlasting and tragic blot of brick, concrete, metal, plastic and tarmac on the open-aspect green park landscape that currently exists (and has existed since at least 1919).
As a rule (... c'mon FCUM fans, just think about this and be honest with yourselves for a few minutes ... ) to 'improve / regenerate' inner city areas, building on that area's park land / green spaces is NOT the way developers go. When such 'regeneration' work is ever done it is the norm to retain / reclaim as much land as possible for landscaping, to make / keep the area as green as possible - not the other way around !! What makes this case all the more galling is that the Broadhurst Park area of Moston is not even in need of 'regeneration' because it's already a decent, pleasant neighbourhood. Who the hell ever heard of a park being improved by having one of its playing fields BUILT on ??
Who in their right mind would want a 5000 capacity football stadium accross the road from them?
The good news is the club doesnt actually have the money to build the monstrosity yet, so there is hope!!!
They are now going cap in hand to their fans to beg for more money to build their unwanted white elephant - maybe they should go begging around Asda again like they did for signatures.... I bet the shoppers there wont be so forthcoming with their wallet like they were with a pen!
Lets face it, FC was a failing business...just check out the business plan they submitted for the Ten Acres Lane proposal! They have proved they can't hack it in the real business world, so along came M/C council who are not only giving away the jewel of Moston for what we're told is to be a peppercorn lease, they're throwing in a sack of gold as well!!!
And for what? A glorified drinking hole of a clubhouse, engulfed in a 5000 capacity football stadium for FC to practice football. But the real Gem is the business model of hiring out the 'COMMUNITY' facilities. So...will FC no longer be a failing business? Who knows, only time will tell if their massive step on the ladder will pay off. But hey ho...if it doesn't no worries, none of those involved will have lost a penny.....!!! It will be all you share holders who FC have already suckered in, and any new ones who are foolish enough to put good money after bad.....I cant say I'd feel sorry for you though, if you're selfish enough to buy into something when you know the community do not want you in their midst! At least you have a choice of putting your money in, Mostonians have no choice in their land going up for grabs! And as for the council funding......shame on those councillors who voted for this at committee!!!....Shame on those councillors who have voted to 'vire' the money to FC which had been allocated to the site for junior football teams! And Shame on the council planners who have navigated well intended planning policy to make a monstrosity of a development fit where it clearly does not!!!
Which reminds me, I must double my CSS investment. With 30% tax back it's better than an ISA and far better than interest paid by the bank. We raised £1,280,000 out of the 1,600,000 needed before the rug was pulled under TAL and the scheme suspended. We'll get the remaining £320,000 now the location hiccup has been resolved. Upwards and onwards!
Hello, Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw
You are right I did say I gave nothing against FC being in Moston, and I stand by that statement! My problem is the location, and as I live within this location I do have the right to scrutinise the business model of the developer who, in effect is going to tear up and devastate MY green fields in order to essentially run a business. Being a local council tax paying resident, I have indirectly and not through choice, contributed to this development and this also gives me the right to scrutinise the business model. And, as I said you only have to look at the Ten Acres Lane business plan to see the club was finacially failing! Ten Acres Lane being the site of preference for FC also gives me the right as a resident local to the 'next best place' to fully scrutinise the motive behind a club who shouts 'COMMUNITY' being happy to divide the community they profess they want to be part of!!!
And to Free Red, Manchester;
have you actually read the disclamer at the beginning of FC's Share Offer Document?
'Our share offer is exempt from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
or subsidiary regulations; this means you have no right of complaint to an
ombudsman. A community benefit society is registered with but not
authorised by the Financial Services Authority and therefore the money you
pay for your shares is not safeguarded by any depositor protection scheme
or dispute resolution scheme. As the whole of your investment could carry a risk,'.........................
Not quite the same as an ISA...is it?
Interesting that one of you is from Audenshaw, and the other just states Manchester.....not likely to be any where near the proposed stadium, I'm sure you would have mentioned it if you were!