Ground-share deal means such Allot as Celtic can go home after so many years away
CHAIRMAN’S DELIGHT AS CLUB’S LONG-TERM FUTURE IS SECURED
WEST Allotment Celtic have secured their long-term future after reaching a long-term ground-share agreement with Bay Plastics Northern Alliance club Forest Hall FC and Forest Hall YPC.
It’s just over four years since Allotment were on the brink of going out of business after a ground dispute with the Northumberland FA over their former Whitley Park home.
The North Tyneside club resigned from the Ebac Northern League and looked set to bring down the curtain on 90 years of football at the club.
They withdrew their resignation when they secured a move into a new temporary home at Druid Park in the shadow of Newcastle Airport, almost 14 miles from West Allotment.
After spending the last two seasons at Druid Park, a historical agreement has been reached over the last few weeks to take West Allotment back home and they believe that they will in place at East Palmersville Sports Complex for the start of the 2020/21 season. In a further boost for both clubs, a grant of £100,000 has been secured from the Premier League via the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to make the necessary improvements to help the ground meet Northern League criteria by the end of August.
The Fund has been used by a number of clubs across the professional and amateur game to help with ground improvements such as new turnstiles, floodlighting and improved facilities for disabled supporters.
Allotment chairman Jim
Wilson hailed the agreement between the two clubs and expressed his delight that his club would be moving home after an absence of almost a quarter of a century.
He said: “This is a magnificent partnership that will provide a superb facility for the local community, while massively helping the development of two longstanding local football clubs. “Everyone at West Allotment Celtic cannot wait to get started at Palmersville and continue to build on the already strong relationship that we have with Forest Hall FC and Forest Hall YPC.
“The club has been based away from its community for almost 25 years now, so it is wonderful to be heading home at long last. It has only happened due to the unstinting effort and generosity of many people over many, many months.
“All at West Allotment Celtic will strive to reward this determination by bringing Northern League Division One football to East Palmersville as soon as possible. “It would be fantastic if this journey is supported by as many local people as possible.
“We promise to provide the highly entertaining football that the new facility deserves.”
Forest Hall YPC have recently taken over the lease of the complex from North Tyneside Council and they will continue to run the facility.
That has allowed them to enter into the agreement with West Allotment and plan for the ground improvements that are set to take place over the next two months.
Among the improvements planned for the return to action are floodlights, a grandstand, dugouts and a perimeter fence.
Forest Hall’s senior football representative, Dale Outerside, said: “We are all delighted, excited and looking forward to getting started.
“West Allotment Celtic is a club with a long and successful history and tradition in local football here, and for us to be in a position to link up is fantastic. Our team will continue to be based around giving opportunity to young players.
“For those who have the drive to want to progress within the nonleague football system then this link-up can really help and support them.”
It is wonderful to be heading home at long last. It has only happened due to the unstinting effort of many
Jim Wilson