Promised land in reach as Skem eye new home
SKELMERSDALE United have taken the first step towards building their own stadium after acquiring land in the area.
The site, adjacent to JMO Sports Park, is just half a mile from where the club previously played its home matches at the Stormy Corner stadium.
Club media officer Simon Driscoll said: “The security that the project would give the club is the fact that we would not be at the whim of a leaseholder, [unlike] what we have suffered these past few months.”
This comes after the club were locked out of their ground due to disagreements with the previous leaseholder regarding the costs of repairs at their former stadium.
Driscoll continued: “The lease was cancelled early on Friday 20th October and the ground seized and locked up
“Our chairman and staff were able to recover enough kit and supplies for the away trip to Tadcaster Albion, the following day.
“Since then we have been aided by Marine AFC, who gave us a great deal to stage two games at their Marine Travel Arena”.
The Evo-Stik League North club temporarily moved to Prescot Cables’ Volair Park on the 18th November and the club admits it may look to extend this deal next season, although the priority remains to build their own stadium. .
Driscoll continued: “We begin our stay for the season as planned at Prescot on the 18th and may look to strike a deal to play there next season, with the solution at present being building our own stadium.
“As for if the solution suffered a blow, then the future of the club itself would be in question, as it was back in March before the Prescot deal was struck.”
Skelmersdale supporter and former youth player Jacob Rowlands was relieved to hear that the club could possibly have its own stadium and would not be reliant on external leaseholders.
He said: “They won’t have that hanging over them anymore, the people will be more in control of their own club and hopefully it’s the catalyst for the club to push on.
“It’s good that the new site is so close to the old stadium because it makes it accessible for everyone who was involved with the club at the old stadium.”
Whilst the future of the club may not yet be secured, it certainly appears to be taking steps in the right direction.