Member Article

Work begins on new 250 seated stand and clubhouse for Ashington Football Club

The development of new facilities at Ashington Community Football Club (ACFC) has reached a major milestone where work has now begun on a new 250-seated stand and clubhouse with hospitality facilities for next season.

ACFC moved its home at Woodhorn Lane in 2000. Whilst playing competitively in the Northern League Division One the Club has established itself as a pivotal part of the local community.

Arch is supporting the new facilities which will implement a step change in revenue- generation, encourage greater community involvement and ownership and forms part of the overall renewal of the Ashington town centre and Hirst Investment Plan where Arch is a major landlord.

It is expected that the new facilities will open to the public in November 2015.

Arch is leading the delivery of a ten-year Investment Plan that will invest around £74 million and bring over 1,000 high-quality jobs to the heart of Ashington and transform the town centre’s physical environment.

The Investment Plan will facilitate the physical elements of Northumberland County Council’s wider vision for a healthier and more prosperous Ashington, putting vital local institutions like the ACFC on a sustainable long-term footing.

MP for Wansbeck, Ian Lavery, said: “The Ashington Football Club is a major step for the Investment project and we are excited about turning the plans into reality.

“The new development is another phase of the plan to regenerate and revitalise Ashington Town Centre and provide superb new football facilities and activities for local people.”

Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council and Chair of Arch Cllr, Dave Ledger, said: “We want to have a prosperous county with sustainable economic growth – one where our local institutions can thrive.

“The ACFC development is set to provide some fantastic new facilities and encourage greater community involvement”.