Guernsey Football Club (GFC) has unveiled plans for a new football facility that will not only host home matches, but also offer a 3G field for community use.
The soccer club, which plays its matches in non-league Isthmian Division South East currently, has been seeking a permanent home for its long-term sustainability and ambitions for moving up through the FA leagues.
The new venue has been presented in a joint venture with the Guernsey Football Association (GFA) and will be part-funded by the English Football Association if the planning application is successful.
The GFA has been without a permanent home for the entirety of its 125 years and working with GFC to build a new facility will help both parties out.
“GFC has made no secret of the fact that, in order for the club to be sustainable in the long term, it would need its own home to generate the income required to participate in the FA National League Pyramid. Over the last seven years, we have used Footes Lane stadium on match days; however, we have been restricted in our capacity or opportunity to drive additional income opportunities at this ground, owing to situations beyond our control,” said GFC chairman Mark Le Tissier.
“We are delighted to be working alongside the GFA to present a bright future for football on the island, as well as creating a brand-new community hub. It is our vision that this new facility will be much more than a stand where our fans watch football. We hope to create a community hub and our ethos for the facility is very much in line with the goals of the GFA.”
The intention is for the build to begin during 2019 so that it is ready for the 2021/22 season. This is seen as opportune timing, with the Island Games taking place in Guernsey in 2021.
Guernsey Football Club (GFC) has unveiled plans for a new football facility that will not only host home matches, but also offer a 3G field for community use.
The soccer club, which plays its matches in non-league Isthmian Division South East currently, has been seeking a permanent home for its long-term sustainability and ambitions for moving up through the FA leagues.
The new venue has been presented in a joint venture with the Guernsey Football Association (GFA) and will be part-funded by the English Football Association if the planning application is successful.
The GFA has been without a permanent home for the entirety of its 125 years and working with GFC to build a new facility will help both parties out.
“GFC has made no secret of the fact that, in order for the club to be sustainable in the long term, it would need its own home to generate the income required to participate in the FA National League Pyramid. Over the last seven years, we have used Footes Lane stadium on match days; however, we have been restricted in our capacity or opportunity to drive additional income opportunities at this ground, owing to situations beyond our control,” said GFC chairman Mark Le Tissier.
“We are delighted to be working alongside the GFA to present a bright future for football on the island, as well as creating a brand-new community hub. It is our vision that this new facility will be much more than a stand where our fans watch football. We hope to create a community hub and our ethos for the facility is very much in line with the goals of the GFA.”
The intention is for the build to begin during 2019 so that it is ready for the 2021/22 season. This is seen as opportune timing, with the Island Games taking place in Guernsey in 2021.
