Barking's move to 3G is delayed

In March 2019 we brought you the news that Barking FC had secured a thirty year lease on their Mayesbrook Park home, and expected to have turned the stadium into a community facility with a new 3G pitch by the start of the forthcoming season. This morning, however, Chairman Rob O'Brien confirmed that the timelines have slipped somewhat, although this is a council matter rather than anything which the club can control.

In a statement released on social media, Rob explained:

" Despite the fact that we have full planning permission...after consulting with the council consent to start works will not be granted, due to the fact that the Heads of Terms for the lease have not yet been produced for agreement. The council have offered a time period for the production of this sometime in Quarter 3 of 2019 (so between October and December this year). After discussions the agreement could be concluded in Quarter 4 of 2019 (so between January and March 2020).

We are hopeful that all the legal documents can be signed and agreed to enable installation of the 3G pitch at the end of April 2020."

Rob continued:

"The club would like to reassure everyone that we will be doing all we can to make the playing surface the best it can be for the coming season, and will be asking the league for their support in terms of enabling suitably timed home fixtures. Going forward it will be a challenging season but one that I'm sure won't faze us."

Read the entire statement here.