"We want football not flats"

Hundreds turn up to support Newbury FC in its battle to save Faraday Road

“WE want football, not flats.”

That was the message from the hundreds of people who turned out at Faraday Road on Saturday to help support Newbury FC in its ongoing fight with West Berkshire Council.

The council was due to kick the club out of its ground in June, in order to press ahead with its plan to redevelop the London Road Industrial Estate.

However, in November, the council admitted that work was unlikely to start on the project, which has been beset by problems, until 2018.

This caused a backlash from representatives of the football club, who demanded to know why they were being told to leave years before development starts.

After a public outcry and a petition signed by thousands, the council promised to review the timing – and earlier this month agreed to give the club a two-year stay of execution, until June 2018.

On Saturday, the Save Newbury Town Football Club campaign held a fundraising day, with all the proceeds going towards the legal costs incurred in the fight to secure the future of football at Faraday Road.

The event featured a veterans six-a-side tournament and a mini tournament for young players, followed by an evening disco and auction in the clubhouse.

It also included a penalty shoot-out contest and stalls selling crafts and refreshments.

Sandi Talbot was one of many who went to show their support.

She said: “When you look at this and how many people have come to support Newbury today, we should be proud of the ground, we shouldn’t be knocking it down and building houses. We should be proud of this environment.

“If you take it away what are the kids going to do, where are they going to go? We want to be able to come here and enjoy what we’ve got.”

Speen resident Dave Summers added: “I played here a few times as a kid and a couple of times as an adult and my lad has played here for a couple of years.

“As you can see from today, it is a hub of the community.

“If they want to knock it down, find somewhere else for it. Simple as that.

“You have got Hungerford, who are two divisions off being professional, and Thatcham have got a nice little football ground.

“Newbury has got a nice rugby ground, but what about the football?

“Half the council don’t even live around here, so they don’t really give a monkeys.”

Football has been played in the Faraday Road area of Newbury for 128 years – since Newbury Town were formed in 1887.

Newbury Town FC moved to the current ground in Faraday Road in August 1963 before the club folded in 1995.