Marlow FC lodges stadium appeal (From This Is Local London)

Marlow FC lodges stadium appeal

7:40am Friday 4th September 2009 in News By James Nadal

Marlow FC chairman Terry Staines

MARLOW Football Club has launched a last-minute appeal it hopes will resurrect its plans for a new stadium.

The club's ageing Oak Tree Road stadium is due for inspection by The Football Association in two weeks which will highlight the club's desperate need for a new base, chairman Terry Staines fears.

Mr Staines said there is nowhere else in Marlow that the Southern League club can go, other than the proposed site at Little Marlow gravel pits.

Wycome District Councillors threw out the relocation plan, which included a proposal to build 93 homes on the club’s current ground, in February.

They went against the advice of planning officers, who had argued that there were “very special circumstances” outweighing the harm that would be caused to the green belt.

Their report said it would provide better sporting facilities for youngsters to help fight obesity.

Marlow F.C has lodged the appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, a national independent body which rules on appeals.

Some cases can go to the Secretary of State or result in a public inquiry.

Mr Staines, who has been chairman for 15 years, believes the fact officers approved of the plans gives the club a strong case.

Mr Staines said: “There's no where else in Marlow for the stadium. As a club we want to acquire the facilities we believe are necessary for us to continue and progress.

“The facilities are very restricted as they are and we have a lot of youngsters who have no possibility of playing.

“The government and WDC are committed to tackling the obesity problem.

“Here was an opportunity where these were provided for the community with no cost but the council took a different view.”

The club had to spend about £1,000 to build a new first aid room following the previous ground inspection in 2007 and could face a further outlay to make adjustments to grass banking under new rules.

Mr Staines, who played for the club between 1974 and 1980, said: “The requirements to play at this level are continually increasing and it's becoming more and more difficult to satisfy these.

“We have to improve these just to stand still.”

He said the stadium is “just generally ageing, things are wearing out and it's natural life is coming to an end.”

The floodlights are 50 years old and the stand is more than 70 years old.

New floodlights could cost around £50,000.

Mr Staines said these are crucial for many matches, including evening games played by youth teams and Wycombe Wanderers reserves.

Mike Overall, coordinator for the Little Marlow Gravel Pits Community Partnership, a group consisting of residents, parish councillors and various campaign bodies, said the original decision was “robust” because the stadium would ruin a natural beauty spot.

“I think it's unlikely to be overturned on appeal.

“I hope it will go to public inquiry if they do accept it.

“It would be devastating for the whole concept of the countryside park which was the result of several years of thorough investigation and public consultation.”

Wycombe District cllr Roger Wilson, said: “I think the original decision was the correct one because I still can't see any benefit from spoiling our greenbelt.

“If there was a real demand people would be screaming out for football facilities but I haven't heard that.”

Marlow FC history

- Marlow FC is one of the oldest clubs in the county.

-It formed on November 22 1870 at the Compleat Angler Hotel

-It was originally named Great Marlow Football Club

- Its first ground was at Crown Meadow, now the Riley Recreational Ground. It played there until 1919.

-It was one of the original entrants in the first FA Cup in 1871/72 and contributed a share of the £25 that bought the first trophy.

-Marlow FC is the only club to have applied for entry to every FA Cup since its inception.

-It reached the semi-finals in 1882 losing to eventual winners Old Etonians 0-5 at the Oval.

-The club chose to remain an amateur side when invited to join the newly-formed Southern League in 1894. Its place was taken by Tottenham Hotspur.

-It now plays in the Southern League, Midland division.