THE search is on for a potential new football ground to ensure Holsworthy Football Club can continue to compete at a higher level.

Steven Lee, Holsworthy AFC chairman, attended the town’s full council meeting on Wednesday, November 4, to give councillors prior warning of the club’s search.

He explained that the club is currently competing in step six of the South West Peninsula League (SWPL), having been promoted before the pandemic. This was a great achievement for the club and something they wish to build upon. However, their current ground at Upcott Field is several metres short of Football Association (FA) standards.

Mr Lee said: “At this present moment in time we are playing in a league that requires above the standard of ground we are actually using. In fact we are playing two steps above what we are officially allowed to play — our pitch is too small for the league we are playing in.”

When the club was promoted to step six pre-COVID Upcott Field had to undergo a ground grading, which Mr Lee said they “failed quite miserably”.

As a result, the club began thinking of solutions, and the preliminary plans were put before the council on Wednesday.

“We have identified a parcel of land. We have a land owner that is allowing us to look at possibilities for using that bit of land, I did put some maps forward tot he council,” said Mr Lee. “That is just the preliminary plan, I’m sure there will be some changes made to that because we want a pitch that is big enough to play at any level, any cup game etcetera.”

The plans include a 3G pitch and a second grass pitch and a club house. Mr Lee added: “We want it to be future proof.”

Cllr John Allen asked what the club’s budget for this project would be.

Mr Lee said they didn’t have a budget yet as it was very early days, but there were a few funding streams the club could look in to. However, after some prior research he believed the average cost of the type of 3G pitch the club was hoping for was around £600,000?— but that price would not include the cost of a club house.

Cllr John Allen asked what the club wanted from the town council.

Mr Lee said at this time they just wanted to inform the council of their plans to move and gain their support and suggestions in the months and years ahead for what would be a very large project. “We know these things take a long time but if you get everybody moving in the same direction — we’re not looking for it to be just Holsworthy Football Club, we want it to be a community club for everyone to use.”

Councillors expressed their hopes that the club could find space within the town but understood that space was limited.

Finally Cllr Pete Shepperd enquired: “Is there a chance that the team could get demoted from the league if you don’t get the pitch up to standard in a certain amount of time?”

Mr Lee said at the moment because the team was in the league it could stay in the league however, there was the possibility of relegation further down the line if they could not keep up with the standards being met by other clubs.