AN INTERVIEW WITH RACING CLUB WARWICK'S CHAIRMAN, GARY VELLA, ABOUT HIS CLUB'S GROUND IMPROVEMENTS...

So, following the removal of the old grandstand which was replaced by the current newer construction and the upgrade to the changing rooms at Racing Club Warwick's Townsend Meadow Stadium, further improvements are now taking place.

I asked Chairman Gary Vella about how things were progressing...

 

How was the decision made to make these changes?

"In the past five and a half years ago since we came on board, the club has removed old dilapidated buildings, replaced them with newer structures and added a small 3G training facility, along with new changing rooms, a small stand and floodlights. 

This has allowed the club to push forward onto the next stage which was to implement a 3G pitch as the main playing surface. Not only does this mean that games are not subjected to cancellations due to flooding but also it allows the whole club and community to play and train onsite, which greatly increases revenue again."

 

MY PIC, TAKEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO...

Planning permission was clearly agreed but I guess the main concern was financing the changes?

"The club is now in a very sustainable long-term position and the increased revenue the club now generates means that additional funding streams have been opened, allowing those enhancements."

 

Presumably, an ‘artificial’ pitch was a priority?

"An artificial pitch means that over 2000 people can use the facility each week. Alongside the revenue this creates with pitch hire and also the peripheral activity in the bar and café, also comes a community aspect and a real home and base for everybody associated with the club. Of course, no more cancellations for matches is also a huge factor and creates more stability."

 

You had many matches postponed over the last few seasons, so do you feel that more success might have been attained by the team had your playing surface been more amenable?

"This is hard to answer but continuity and fitness at this level are harder to maintain due to the infrequent meetings of players. Playing week-in and week-out can only help and supporters also know where they stand and can plan their weekends to come and watch Racing without too much fear of a postponement."

 

The old grandstand with the nearly inaccessible gantry has now gone, so what will this be replaced by?

"There is a new stand built with 110 seats initially but we can add up to 400 seats in this stand and also have the option to extend the stand along the whole pitch, which would then hold over 1,200 seats."

 

Is any hard standing planned for either the ends, or the sides of the pitch?

"Hard standing is a requirement for ground grading and so yes. We also have plans to add a covered standing area behind the far end goal this summer."

 

Have you any idea when the stadium will be completed and have you plans to open it with a special match?

"The stadium is due to be completed on February 8^th. Obviously an opening event is planned but with current restrictions we will announce it when we are able to hold an event safely."

 

Will the ground be community friendly, say with a coffee shop on site, open during non-playing days?

"The coffee shop will be open every day from 8am until 10pm."

 

The changes suggest that you have real hopes for progressing up the non-league pyramid, so what would you say are your ambitions, both dream-like and realistic?

"The club's aim is for two more promotions over the next five years, to add to the promotion we had from Step 6 two years ago."

 

Finally, concerning this 2020-21 season, how and when do you see it being concluded?

"We will hear soon what the league plans to do but I hope we can resume in the spring and play until as late as possible in order to conclude the season."

Thanks to Gary Vella, the Racing Club Warwick Chairman...

My first visit to Townsend Meadow was in July 2011 for a pre-season match v Redditch, which the Racers lost 1-3.

Below are some images I snapped of the ground on that day...