New future kicks off for Bishop Auckland Football Club
Nov 22 2008 by Neil McKay, The Journal
THEY were feted as the Kings of Amateur Football, helped Manchester United in their darkest hour, and even had a Subuteo team.
Now a new dawn beckons for the two blues of Bishop Auckland Football Club.
Councillors unanimously approved plans for a new ground in Tindale Crescent, on the outskirts of the County Durham town, at a meeting in Crook Civic Centre.
The new ground is part of a £45m supermarket and leisure scheme which also involves a Sainsbury’s supermarket, a six-screen cinema and bowling alley on a derelict site.
Councillors accepted the recommendation of senior planning officer Chris Baxter, who told them that the development is needed, would not take trade from businesses in Bishop Auckland town centre, and would regenerate a derelict site. Terry Jackson, chairman of the SilltrainingLtd Northern League’s top division club, made a personal plea to the authority’s development control committee.
He said: “A new home will mean a new start for the club. Having our own ground on which to train and host matches will enable us to grow as a club and once again be a real focal point for the local community. This is great news for our fans, who have continued to turn up to matches while we have been homeless.”
The new ground, complete with a 250-seater stand, is being built with a £250,000 grant from the Football Foundation.
It will have a set of floodlights donated by Manchester United in recognition of Bishop Auckland’s loan of three players in 1958 following the Munich air disaster, which killed eight of their players.
Officials hope the new stadium will be open in time for the start of the 2010/2011 season, but final approval is still required from Government North East because of the size of the Sainsbury’s store.
Bishop Auckland, 10 times FA Amateur Cup winners, have been playing “home” games in Shildon, Spennymoor and West Auckland since selling its famous Kingsway ground in the town centre to developers in 2002.
