Nomads life for Otley after sale of famous old ground

OTLEY RUFC are in discussions with West Park Leeds and Ilkley Rugby Clubs about a temporary groundshare agreement after the sale of Cross Green went through last month, subject to planning permission, for an undisclosed figure.

Property magnate McCarthy & Stone have acquired Cross Green, Otley’s home for nearly 100 years, with a view to building a retirement village on land where the All Blacks were famously beaten by the North in 1979.

Ultimately, the plan is for the National Two North club to relocate to land on the east of the proposed East of Otley relief road, alongside Old Otliensians RUFC and Otley Town Football Club.

But even if the five interlinked planning applications go through smoothly, the rugby club will need to play elsewhere for at least a year.

Otley have to vacate Cross Green by January 2020 and the new premises, which it is hoped will include a new clubhouse, a 200-seat stand and terracing as well as at least nine pitches, will not be ready to use before the start of the following year.

Otley RUFC chairman Paul Mackie said: “We’ll have a year of nomadic rugby and we’re in negotiations with two willing local parties to play all our firstteam games there and also our junior and second team games.

“We haven’t got signed agreements yet, but they are not far away.”