Search for new home discussed with council Talks held as club wins historic game

Clear-the-air talks have been held between Canterbury City FC and council leaders in the wake of renewed frustration over the club’s search for a new home.

Club chiefs had pinned their hopes on plans for a new ground as part of the controversial Highland Court development in Bridge, but the project’s recent rejection by councillors knocked them back to square one.

Now, in the wake of an historic FA Vase quarter-final win on Sunday, the club has met with leaders at the local authority for the first time in years.

The city council had pledged to help find the club a permanent home after turfing them out of the Kingsmead Stadium in 1999.

But following their reformation in 2007, City have struggled to stay afloat, leading a nomadic existence and surviving only by ground-sharing with fellow Kent clubs.

With both sides accusing each other of a breakdown in communication, club chairman Tim Clark met with council leader Simon Cook and its chief executive, Colin Carmichael, on Monday.

Speaking after their “frank and friendly” chat, Mr Clark, who believes the team could draw a strong crowd of 500 to home games, said: “With our cup run and publicity over having no home, I think the pressure built on the council and they decided to meet with us.

“There was no apology or answers but there was an acceptance and understanding that the council needs to be more proactive and not just leave it to us to find a home.

“The pledge needs to go back on the agenda and the council acknowledges it needs to be addressed - that is positive.

“They are just words at the moment so the proof will be in the pudding.”

On Sunday, City secured their place in the two-legged semi final of the FA Vase - leaving them just two games from a Wembley final.

But success on the pitch will not solve the club’s stadium troubles.

Cllr Cook said: “There is a lot of passion for sport with passion and emotions running high - there’s been a great deal of disappointment for the club and supporters as they care very deeply.

“We had a positive meeting which was partially to cool the temperature down a bit and talk about what can be done. The council will have another trawl around for possible sites.

“The last time we did this about two years ago and we couldn’t find anything suitable - but things have changed in that time and we can look again. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up but there is no lack of desire.”

Mr Clark had previously lambasted the authority for the “shabby” way it has handled the long-running stadium problems.

He said: “We’ve had no input from the council over that six years at all. None of them have come to talk to us. What it needs is some serious heads banging together because the council can make this happen.”

Cllr Cook, however, says no member of the football club has attempted to reach out to him for years.

“I haven’t heard a dickie bird in the time I have been leader of the council [since 2015]”, he said.

“My phone number and email can all be found online so there’s no reason why I can’t be contacted. I’m not blaming them but it goes two ways. If they wanted to critique us they should have got in contact.

“But it’s not profitable for us to smite each other. What’s happened has happened. It’s good to clear the air and I appreciate Tim having a meeting with us.”

n For more on City’s win see the back page.

‘They are just words at the moment so the proof will be in the pudding, but hopefully we are moving forward’

www.kentonline.co.uk