Canterbury City land ground deal

Football club signs agreement for new £2m stadium in Bridge by 2019 Exclusive

Canterbury City FC’S long search for a new permanent home looks over after it announced plans for a £2 million stadium in Bridge.

The club, which last had a ground in the city in 1999, has signed up with developers for the ambitious scheme at Highland Court.

If approved, the stadium will form part of a huge development which will include 300 luxury holiday homes, a retirement village, a 50-acre business park and a new ground for Canterbury Rugby Club.

Canterbury City chairman Tim Clark says the move will awaken “the sleeping giant of football in east Kent”, with aspirations of promotion to the National League (formerly the Conference) within five years.

On Tuesday he signed an agreement with developer Mark Quinn, of Quinn Estates, which is also sponsoring the club’s kit for the 2017/18 season.

Mr Clark said: “We are delighted to not only be working with Mark Quinn and Quinn Estates to bring senior football back to the city, but that Mark shares our vision of where we can take the club and is show- ing his commitment with this sponsor partnership.

“There is a lot of interest about Canterbury City FC at the moment and what we are looking to achieve over the next couple of years and I really hope Quinn Estates’ endorsement will encourage other local businesses to get involved with the club.”

Canterbury City has aban- doned plans to move to a stadium in Hersden, and will play at Deal Town’s Charles Ground while it awaits its new facility.

A plan for the entire Highland Court project is expected to be submitted before the end of this year, with the stadium and artificial 3G pitch constructed by 2019.

The club has already secured £1.6 million in funding for the development, which will also include a separate full-sized 3G training pitch, a two-storey pavilion with hospitality suite, and youth and five-a-side pitches.

Mr Clark added: “This will be a fantastic facility that will be unrivalled in Kent and a true community football hub.

“Canterbury City FC has been described as the sleeping giant of football in east Kent. The giant is now waking up.”

Mr Quinn says the club has been missing from the city for too long.

“This is the start of a truly amazing journey for Canterbury City FC that can bring them home and enable them to embark on a new and exciting phase in their history,” he said.

Club chairman Tim Clark with sponsor Mark Quinn have announced plans “to awaken a sleeping giant”