Local Sport
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2008
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New stadium plan to secure Tilbury FC future
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| MAIN STAND: The new main stand would be similar in construction to this being built for Colchester United. |
PLANS have been announced to build a new community football stadium in Tilbury, securing the long term future of the town's 108 year old football and offering new facilities to the town's sportspeople.
The project is a collaboration between the football club, the new Gateway Academy and property developers Montana, who would build the new ground and then build on the club's existing Chadfields stadium and training ground site.
The deal is also believed to include multi-million pound funding to secure the future of the club, which owns the current ground under a deed of Trust to ensure sporting facilities in the town.
Once built, the new stadium, with an initial capacity of 1,000 seats but with provision to build a second stand to take the ground to Football League status, would belong to the Academy, with Tilbury granted long term, permanent rights to its use.
The stadium development would be part of the Academy's long term aim to become a major sports college, with major pitch facilities including an all-weather surface, already part of its own initial build.
The Academy has applied to the government for specialist sports college status, in addition to its current specialisms of art and engineering.
In a proposal to Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation seeking approval for the plans, Academy principal Kevin Sadler outlines the future plans, saying: "The stadium has been designed to complement existing sporting facilities available at the academy.
"This provision would provide a facility that is second to none, and much sought after in the area. A sound business case has been drawn up and a local building firm identified who are happy to undertake the project."
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| PLANS: Drawings for the new ground show a main stand with impressive facilities, ample parking and provision to expand the stadium's capacity. |
Tilbury FC secretary Mark Southgate said: "The management at Tilbury is excited at the now very real prospect of continuing through the coming century with the use of a ground that offers modern accommodation and up to date sporting and spectator facilities.
"The stadium design is modern, with a main stand seating 1,000 people that will be similar to those currently being built for Colchester United next season. It is a very exciting prospect for Tilbury FC and offers the possibility for the club to plan positively for the future."
Tilbury-based Montana Property Development Co Ltd, who already have several schemes built or in development in the town, plan to build 500 new homes on the club's existing site.
With land available and much of the site development infrastructure in place, it is believed the new stadium could be in place in time for the 2009/10 season.
9:10pm Monday 28th April 2008
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