Sports ground threatened with closure (From Daily Echo)
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Closure threat to BTC Sports Ground in Southampton
12:09pm Tuesday 17th July 2012 in Southampton
By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter
Secretary Steve Gray, left, and Chairman Damon Brown at the BTC Sports Ground in Southampton.
IT has been one of the jewels in Hampshire’s sporting crown for more than 80 years.
The BTC Sports Ground, in Stoneham Lane, Swaythling , has played host to football matches for thousands of youngsters across the county since it was opened back in 1928.
Now its future hangs in the balance after volunteers revealed that running the ground is becoming “not financially viable”.
The situation has become so perilous that the 14-acre site, which is home to five football pitches, changing rooms and a clubhouse, could be forced to close in as little as six weeks.
Council chiefs last night ruled out a move to save the ground from oblivion.
Damon Brown, chairman of BTC Southampton Football Club, said the site, which is leased to the club by Southampton City Council, only had a “50- 50” chance of survival, unless it can secure vital funding.
Mr Brown told the Daily Echo that the club, which is one of the founding members of the Southampton Football League, had been trying to win grants for the past ten years, from organisations including the Big Lottery Fund and Sport England. The frustration at being continuously refused help has even led Mr Brown, and club secretary Steve Gray, to resign from their posts as of September 1.
The club, which has about 350 footballers on its books, ranging from the under-eights squad to its five adult teams, needs about £50,000 to keep up with rising energy bills and carry out vital work to the ground, including the conversion of old tennis courts into a new car park.
The recent torrential rain has worsened the situation, forcing Mr Brown to cancel matches, training sessions and tournaments because the club’s car park has only 25 spaces and the overflow field is too boggy for vehicles to park on.
It is a move that has cost the club up to £400 per match day in lost pitch rental income and food and drink sales.
Mr Brown told the Daily Echo: “Over the past few years we have got bigger and bigger as a club, but we are in a situation now where we need to increase the amount of sport we can have here and improve the facilities on offer.
“We have been trying to get grants but have been continually knocked back. People think that we have lots of money but we don’t.
“It’s frustrating that BTC, a club that’s been thriving on this land since 1948, has just been left to one side with the attitude that ‘they will always be there’.
“But now it’s got to the stage where it’s not financially viable anymore and no one seems to want to help.
“People won’t realise what a great job our volunteers do and what brilliant facilities these are until they are gone.
“In an Olympic year when it’s all meant to be about getting people into sport and leaving a legacy, it’s disheartening that we don’t fall into a category that people want to give money to.
“But I will do my absolute utmost until August 31 to keep the ground open.
“The future of the club is not at stake but in the long term it could be because the ground and the club go hand in hand.”
If the club cannot raise £50,000 it may be forced to end the lease, which would see BTC playing elsewhere and the land back under council control.
Mr Brown fears that civic chiefs may have the sports ground earmarked for a housing development or a park and ride scheme.
But city council leisure boss Cllr Warwick Payne said that he wanted BTC to remain on site for the remainder of its 25-year lease, which was handed to the club by the previous Conservative administration two years ago.
Cllr Payne said: “The city council is rather short on resources at the moment, so we couldn’t fund the scheme. We will try to help BTC get new streams of funding and make sure we are not a barrier for them in terms of doing that.
“BTC do a wonderful job. This is one of the best facilities to play football in Hampshire and we don’t want to lose it.
“We are on their side and will do what we can to help them get the grants they need.”
Comments(37)
Paramjit Bahia
says...
12:27pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Didn't some NuLabour members and councillors at time support the people trying to save this place?
If that impression of mine is correct then won't this yet more attack upon sports by Dear Leader led Council during Olympic year be complete hypocrisy?
owen_thesaints
says...
12:29pm Tue 17 Jul 12
What was stopping people parking a little further away and walking, especially if only attending training. Would get them warmed up and ready.
The busiest part of a gym is always it's car park as everyone drives there to use the treadmills...
Ginger_cyclist
says...
12:32pm Tue 17 Jul 12
owen_thesaints
says...
12:34pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Paramjit Bahia wrote:As far as I can see this has nothing to do with politics, they just can't pay the lease.
Is it not the same place which had problems with the Council a while back?
Didn't some NuLabour members and councillors at time support the people trying to save this place?
If that impression of mine is correct then won't this yet more attack upon sports by Dear Leader led Council during Olympic year be complete hypocrisy?
Please stop with the political point scoring where it's not appropriate, it starts to look a little desperate.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
12:43pm Tue 17 Jul 12
They pretend to be very poor when it comes to saving Oaklands swimming pool or these sports fields etc. BUT can find money to waste on public relations exercises or on creating more and more cabinet posts for their unfit for the purpose mates.
Personally I do not mind Dear Leader Williams having few poodles but not when we the people have to pay them around extra £11000 a year.
Amazingly at the last Council meeting hardly any of them even barked, most of them had their tails between their legs when under attack from opposition.
shirley-bill
says...
12:56pm Tue 17 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
1:02pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Just another reader
says...
1:25pm Tue 17 Jul 12
hulla baloo
says...
1:33pm Tue 17 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
1:39pm Tue 17 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Mind you they would probably have to build them on a raft, it is a bit wet in that area!
Just the place for the new Channels Farm Village, proper houses not flats.
Condor Man
says...
3:05pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Heathrowboy
says...
3:58pm Tue 17 Jul 12
MichaelCarr1
says...
4:03pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Inform Al
says...
4:35pm Tue 17 Jul 12
owen_thesaints wrote:I would not want any member of my family or friends, to attempt the suicidal walk along that bendy road with no footpath on either side. If you wish to p[rove it can be done, feel free..
"The recent torrential rain has worsened the situation, forcing Mr Brown to cancel matches, training sessions and tournaments because the club’s car park has only 25 spaces and the overflow field is too boggy for vehicles to park on."
What was stopping people parking a little further away and walking, especially if only attending training. Would get them warmed up and ready.
The busiest part of a gym is always it's car park as everyone drives there to use the treadmills...
Inform Al
says...
4:39pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Paramjit Bahia wrote:For some time now I have been trying to work out which political party you are a sheep for. With this latest apparent lack of grey matter I can only assume you are a Leb Dim.
I am more likely to start believing in flying pigs than trusting likes of Cllr. Payne who are in fact becoming major pain for sports.
They pretend to be very poor when it comes to saving Oaklands swimming pool or these sports fields etc. BUT can find money to waste on public relations exercises or on creating more and more cabinet posts for their unfit for the purpose mates.
Personally I do not mind Dear Leader Williams having few poodles but not when we the people have to pay them around extra £11000 a year.
Amazingly at the last Council meeting hardly any of them even barked, most of them had their tails between their legs when under attack from opposition.
jiblet
says...
4:55pm Tue 17 Jul 12
owen_thesaints wrote:This ground is on Stoneham Lane, it has no pavements and is a very dangerous road to walk along. There is absolutely nowhere to park nearby.
"The recent torrential rain has worsened the situation, forcing Mr Brown to cancel matches, training sessions and tournaments because the club’s car park has only 25 spaces and the overflow field is too boggy for vehicles to park on." What was stopping people parking a little further away and walking, especially if only attending training. Would get them warmed up and ready. The busiest part of a gym is always it's car park as everyone drives there to use the treadmills...
On a tournament day theres in excess of 300 lads playing, which probably equals 300 cars. Where do you propose they park?
Even on training days, there are sometimes 3 separate teams of 16 players training, plus coaches and managers all with cars!!!
All of these people give up their time to support youth football, more often than not being out of pocket themselves due to buying extra equipment not covered by the club.
Every summer they run an 11 a-side tournament which is the biggest of its kind in the south of England, attracting teams from as far away as Liverpool, which goes some way to showing what a great experience it is for these kids.
They have been turned down for lottery funding and grants for years with no real explanations as to why!!!
cantthinkofone
says...
5:39pm Tue 17 Jul 12
I wonder if the volunteers have approached Nicola Cortese with a proposal?
True Chandler's Ford resident
says...
6:10pm Tue 17 Jul 12
IronLady2010
says...
7:45pm Tue 17 Jul 12
I'm not sure what is or isn't allowed on the grounds, but could they hold fetes, Car Boots etc to gain some money.
It's a Community ground, involve the community. Think outside the box rather than rely on a massive sponsor.
TimTam
says...
8:29pm Tue 17 Jul 12
True Chandler's Ford resident wrote:It's Mini-Me!
Is the man on the left really small, or very far away...?
lordshill loyal
says...
8:40pm Tue 17 Jul 12
IronLady2010
says...
8:45pm Tue 17 Jul 12
lordshill loyal wrote:Ask Williams if he can bring in the local Army to help with the repairs, but hang on this is Southampton, we're not being watched globally so we don't matter.
what a fine legacy southampton have left in this olympic year.SAVE OAKLANDS SWIMMING POOL.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
9:08pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Condor Man
says...
9:24pm Tue 17 Jul 12
lordshill loyal wrote:are you going to put your hand in your pocket to help save it? I don't see why the Council Tax payer should continually foot the bill for everything. If facilities aren't sustainable they'll have to go.
what a fine legacy southampton have left in this olympic year.SAVE OAKLANDS SWIMMING POOL.
loosehead
says...
9:42pm Tue 17 Jul 12
UKIPsouthampton
says...
11:19pm Tue 17 Jul 12
IronLady2010
says...
11:27pm Tue 17 Jul 12
UKIPsouthampton wrote:Not such a bad idea, we need a park and ride and it's close to the M27/M3
Be warned these grounds have been earmarked by the council as a future park and ride facility. We as a City must do everything we can to protect our green spaces and playing fields. Sign a petition, let the Council know what you think.
If the locals/users can't support it then why bother?
They state 350 footballers are registered, so am guessing they bring friends, family etc Surely between them all they can raise £50K?
I guess it depends how much effort they put in?
UKIPsouthampton
says...
11:41pm Tue 17 Jul 12
IronLady2010 wrote:You think its a good idea to tarmac over green spaces and playing fields? Sometimes it isnt all about money, there is a perfectly good car park by the train station at the Airport and plenty of trains to take you into the city.
UKIPsouthampton wrote:Not such a bad idea, we need a park and ride and it's close to the M27/M3
Be warned these grounds have been earmarked by the council as a future park and ride facility. We as a City must do everything we can to protect our green spaces and playing fields. Sign a petition, let the Council know what you think.
If the locals/users can't support it then why bother?
They state 350 footballers are registered, so am guessing they bring friends, family etc Surely between them all they can raise £50K?
I guess it depends how much effort they put in?
UKIPsouthampton
says...
11:51pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Condor Man wrote:If people are using it in order to keep fit, learn to swim and promote a healthy lifestyle then it is always worth it.
lordshill loyal wrote:are you going to put your hand in your pocket to help save it? I don't see why the Council Tax payer should continually foot the bill for everything. If facilities aren't sustainable they'll have to go.
what a fine legacy southampton have left in this olympic year.SAVE OAKLANDS SWIMMING POOL.
Here, There
says...
2:31am Wed 18 Jul 12
The council have no money yet contributed 300k to putting Test Park under private ownership after refusing Brendon FC a small percentage of that amount to refurbish existing facilities, why ? The FA among many others bang on about grass roots football let them contribute but be aware you must do the same for the very many other clubs in the land that are suffering similar financial hardship(except Pompey of course) why is a club that signed a 25 year lease only a few years ago finding it sooo hard, the parking and the weather have pretty much remained unchanged there ??
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
8:58pm Wed 18 Jul 12
IronLady2010
says...
9:11pm Wed 18 Jul 12
UKIPsouthampton wrote:Not at all if it can be helped. But if those who use it just leave it to others to fund, there will be no choice.
IronLady2010 wrote:You think its a good idea to tarmac over green spaces and playing fields? Sometimes it isnt all about money, there is a perfectly good car park by the train station at the Airport and plenty of trains to take you into the city.
UKIPsouthampton wrote:Not such a bad idea, we need a park and ride and it's close to the M27/M3
Be warned these grounds have been earmarked by the council as a future park and ride facility. We as a City must do everything we can to protect our green spaces and playing fields. Sign a petition, let the Council know what you think.
If the locals/users can't support it then why bother?
They state 350 footballers are registered, so am guessing they bring friends, family etc Surely between them all they can raise £50K?
I guess it depends how much effort they put in?
350 registered footballers + friends + family, surely they can come up with some funding ideas.
It would be ideal if someone just came along and said here's £50K, but that isn't happening, so it's down to those who wish to keep it to support it.
Good luck to them all, they need to focus on working together as a team, that's what football is all about, teamwork will keep this funded.
lordshill loyal
says...
9:11pm Wed 18 Jul 12
lordshill loyal
says...
9:15pm Wed 18 Jul 12
loosehead
says...
9:36pm Wed 18 Jul 12
Condor Man wrote:If they put it into private hands as the Tories did with the rest it wouldn't need to close would it?
lordshill loyal wrote:are you going to put your hand in your pocket to help save it? I don't see why the Council Tax payer should continually foot the bill for everything. If facilities aren't sustainable they'll have to go.
what a fine legacy southampton have left in this olympic year.SAVE OAKLANDS SWIMMING POOL.
Instead they want to spend £45,000 on a PR stunt for the NO campaign isn't that wrong
OSPREYSAINT
says...
9:53pm Wed 18 Jul 12
10 Minute Man says...
12:20pm Tue 17 Jul 12