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£18m AFC Fylde stadium project to begin this week creating 400 jobs

The£18m project to build a new stadium for AFC Fylde is set to begin this week in Wesham.

The project will see AFC Fylde benefit from upgraded facilities and generate more than 400 jobs for local people.

Kirkham-based Warden Construction will deliver the project, which is expected to complete in March 2016 and will include public footpaths, highway works and landscaping.

The 6,000 capacity project will include a modern 2,000 all-seated main stand with supporters’ bar, restaurant, nursery, executive boxes, offices and a function room.

The scheme will also include all weather pitches, a full-sized floodlit football pitch, food store, petrol station, hotel and public house.

Chairman of AFC Fylde, David Haythornthwaite, said: “We’re delighted that work is starting on site and particularly happy we were able to award the contract to Warden which, like us, is a local family run business.

“It’s been a long road but we’re finally here and extremely pleased that within a year we will have some excellent facilities in place that will bring the local community together and provide them with a place to enjoy time with friends and family, whilst supporting their football team.

Managing director at Warden Construction, Richard Kenworthy, said: “We’re proud to have won this prestigious contract, which will help put AFC Fylde on the map both locally and in the world of football. We have plenty of experience in sports-related projects for local authorities and universities and are looking forward to getting started.

“This project will generate several employment opportunities both at our head office and on site and we’ll be endeavouring to ensure that at least 80 per cent of the supply chain packages go to local businesses.

“We’ll also be liaising with local residents throughout the project to ensure that their concerns are taken on board and any disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Currently second in the Vanarama Conference North League, AFC Fylde has won 19 games this season and has ambitious plans to be in in the Football League within 10 years.

The new facilities will give the club room to develop, as well as providing a platform to build on its growing programme of activities for young people through the AFC Fylde Community Foundation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .