Football and rugby clubs seek new grounds

Canterbury City Football Club has been stuck in the doldrums ever since it had to vacate its Kingsmead home in 1999.

It has been forced to groundshare and seen its league status slump and fanbase dwindle to about 100 regular supporters on match day.

But chairman Tim Clark says being given eight acres of land at Highland Court to develop a stadium and pitches would offer a hugely exciting new future for the club.

“It really is a make-or-break opportunity and the chance to establish us as a leading club in the south east in the future, which Canterbury deserves,” he said.

“We will develop a community football hub and work with Canterbury Christ Church University, which is keen on developing a football academy degree course.”

The club has about £1.6 million in the pot in compensation for giving up its former Kingsmead site and in other council grants to put towards the project.

The potential move of Canterbury Rugby Club’s to Highland Court is also being welcomed by its commercial manager, Giles Hilton.

Founded in 1929, the club moved to Merton Lane North just after the war, but its success means it is now outgrowing the site.

“We are bursting at the seams and, although we are only at the early stages of any potential relocation, it does present a very exciting opportunity to move the club up to another level,” said Mr Hilton.

“It would secure the club long into the future and draw more talent and allow us to apply for sporting grants,” he said.

If approved, it is anticipated that a planning application would be forthcoming for new homes on the existing rugby fields.

The new facilities at Highland Court would include a 4,000 sq ft clubhouse, four rugby pitches, three junior pitches and a 200-space car park.

Far left, Quinn Estates managing director Mark Quinn and left, Highland Court Investments managing director Gary Walters