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FC United | Broadhurst Park Stadium | 5,000 Capacity

132K views 429 replies 49 participants last post by  RMB2007 
#1 · (Edited)
As this project is now starting to move from a dream to hopefully a reality, I figured it needed its own thread here :cheers:


From late 2007

Rebels Close to Home of Their Own

by Stuart Brennan in MEN
30/10/2007


FC UNITED'S bid to build their own stadium has received a major boost from Manchester City Council.

The Rebels, who hope to have their own home within five years, have been commended for their "vision" by the council, which is now trying to find a site for a 5,000-capacity ground.

FC general manager Andy Walsh and board member Adam Brown recently met leader of the council Sir Richard Leese and town hall officers to discuss ways forward for the club formed by dis- affected Manchester United supporters in 2005.

And Sir Richard told the recent conference of Supporters Direct - the government body set up to give football fans a greater say in the running of their clubs - that, "we were really convinced by the vision that FC United set out."

Important

The importance of building their own ground was laid bare at FC's annual meeting at the weekend, when it was revealed that the club lost £40,000 in the last financial year.

Attendances have dropped since the club's inaugural season, despite two successive promotions and the fact that the Rebels are now riding high in the UniBond League's first division north.

But the club now has a hard-core support of around 2,200, and believe they can only start to fulfil their dream of becoming a community club once they get their own ground after three seasons of sharing with Bury.

The ground-share has been a big drain on resources, to the point that some home cup games - like tomorrow night's President's Cup clash with Bamber Bridge - have been switched to Radcliffe Borough's cheaper stadium.

Outlining plans for a new stadium at the club's meeting, Brown said: "Absolutely essential to what we are trying to do is the community approach of this football club.

Access

"We are renting a ground and have access to it only when there is a match on, which means we don't have a base from which to work and that all the income we get is not being re-invested in the club but is going out to other organisations such as Bury Football Club.

"We have a very clear rationale. Any money that comes into the club needs to be reinvested into the club, and we can't fulfil our ambitions of being a community club if we are constantly nomadic."

As to the £40,000 loss, Walsh explained: "In our first year we had a surplus and decided we would employ a club development officer as we needed to show community funders that we were serious.

"We also wanted to set up reserve and youth teams and all of those things cost us £75,000 which, with grant funding, came down to about £60,000.

"A significant part of our outgoings are matchday operating costs which are far in excess of those faced by other clubs at our level because we play at such a large ground and need to employ 40 staff. But we still expect to hit something like break even for the current year."


Reds’ Boost in Bid to Find their Own Home

1/11/2007 From The MEN

MANCHESTER City Council has thrown its considerable weight behind FC United’s plans to move from Gigg Lane and find their own permanent home.

Council leader Richard Leese says he shares the club’s vision to provide community facilities within the city and he will help them in their search.

Leese is reported as telling a Supporters Direct meeting in Manchester that the council is ‘really convinced by the vision FC United set out’.

The reds hope to be in their new home within five years but around £5 million to £8 million is needed to turn the dream into reality and the purchase of suitable land is the biggest stumbling block.

The council’s backing is therefore invaluable.

This news and further plans were revealed to members at the club’s annual general meeting at the weekend.

The club’s biggest financial outlay is the rent money they pay to Bury to hire Gigg Lane for matches.

A spokesman for FC said: "We only rent the ground on match days and therefore don’t have a base from which to work and our income is going out to other organisations, such as Bury Football Club. Getting our own ground is essential to the future of the club and it also needs to be part of the community."

Plans showing concept designs of what any new stadium could look like were revealed to members and a development fund has been set up for people to donate towards the dream.
FC United's website can be found at www.fc-utd.co.uk
 
#99 ·
Moston It Is Then. Ronald Johnson Playing Fields + 750K from the Council +......(underlined)

Link to the full report at the bottom of the page.

Manchester City Council
Report for Resolution
Report To: Executive – April 6 2011
Subject: FC United Options Review
Report of: Chief Executive – New East Manchester
Director of Neighbourhood Services

Summary

The purpose of this report is to appraise the Executive on the outcome of a review of development options for community sport facilities and a football ground linked to FC United of Manchester. FC United is a member’s owned football club constituted as an Industrial and Provident Society. The club wish to establish a 5,000 capacity stadium and accompanying community facilities, which they had originally intended to develop on an existing leisure site at Ten Acres Lane, Newton Heath.

Following confirmation of the Council’s budget settlement in December 2010 and a decision by the Council to reduce revenue expenditure on the Ten Acre Lane site, it was necessary to review the Council’s strategic priorities for investment into football facilities and to examine alternative options to deliver this development. This report identifies the Ronald Johnson Playing Field site as the preferred option for the development and authority is sought to enable FC United and officers to undertake detailed site investigation works, consult with the local community and other stakeholders and undertake detailed feasibility on the potential development.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

1. Endorse in principle the outcome of the options review and request that FC United and the City Council undertake a public consultation exercise with local residents and report back to a future meeting of the Executive on the outcome of the consultation process.

2. Agree to FC United and the City Council undertaking site investigation works and begin detailed feasibility work to enable terms to be agreed to facilitate the disposal of a long leasehold interest in the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields to FC United, the detailed terms of the proposed disposal of land will be reported at a future meeting of the Executive.

3. Agree a capital sum of £750K approved by the Executive on 22 July 2009 for improvement works at the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields is vired and applied to a revised joint scheme between FC United and Moston Juniors FC subject to Council approval. In addition, agree that the revenue costs associated with site investigations and feasibility works is approved as part of the Council’s £750k contribution and authorise the City Treasurer to make the appropriate

4. Endorse in principle that Leisure Services undertake work with the Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust to seek investment for the lifecycle replacement of the all weather pitch at Ten Acres Lane.

Financial Consequences – Capital

Executive have previously approved £750K towards the cost of improvement works at the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields (refer to report to Executive 22nd July 2009). It is proposed that this provision within the capital programme is vired to the FC United scheme subject to the provision of viable capital and revenue business cases showing sufficient funding has been secured to develop the site.

It is also intended that from this funding, the cost of the feasibility study and other expenses relating to the re-development of the business plan to the new site will be incurred. This will still be required should the scheme not go ahead and currently equates to approximately £200K.
Financial Consequences – Revenue

The majority of the site is currently let to Trustees of Moston Juniors FC who have a25 year lease which expires in 2032. The rental is £1,000 per annum, which is reviewed annually by reference to Retail Price Index. This income stream may need to be relinquished as part of the proposed surrender and grant of new lease to FC United.

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/1A_-_FC_United.pdf
 
#102 ·
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...ited-to-build-5000-capacity-stadium-in-moston

Home win: FC United to build 5,000 capacity stadium in Moston



FC United new home is to be in Moston, the M.E.N. can reveal.

Officials from the club - formed in 2005 in protest at the Glazer family's ownership of Manchester United - have been locked in talks with council bosses since their plans for a 5,000-capacity stadium in Ten Acres Lane, Newton Heath, collapsed last month.

The Ronald Johnson Playing Fields, close to Lightbowne Road, have now been identified as the new site. It too will have a 5,000 capacity, including up to 600 seats.

FC bosses will put a planning application before Manchester council this summer with a view to kicking off the 2012/13 season in Moston.

If all goes according to plan, work could commence before the end of the year.

FC general manager Andy Walsh said the planned stadium would be very similar to that earmarked for Ten Acres Lane.

He described it as a very positive day for the club but warned there was a long way to go.

Residents in the area will be consulted and a feasibility study carried out before the club, which is run on a co-operative basis, can progress.

Mr Walsh paid tribute to the work of council officers. He said: “They have done what they told us they were going to do.”

It will have a club house and an additonal a full-size artificial pitch. There are no plans at this stage for a sports centre but that may change.

Moston Juniors currently play from the site and they would be accommodated in the scheme,..

The plug was pulled on Ten Acres Lane when town hall bosses withdrew £600,000 of funding after carrying out a spending review in the light of government cuts.

Mike Amesbury, from the council, said: "These are exciting plans which will mean further welcome investment in north Manchester.”

Broughton Park, close to Hough End playing fields, and Wythenshawe Park were looked at but neither were considered viable. FC United currently play their matches in the seventh tier of English football at Bury's Gigg Lane. They regularly attract crowds of more than 2,000.

The club has raised £1.3m through a share scheme and £400,000 in donations towards the project. They will offer payment plans to residents close to the ground who wish to buy shares.
 
#105 · (Edited)
Am I the only one underwhelmed by this location? Not aware of any direct public transport to this location and if there is its a "round the estates " bus. Not great for 2000 crowds one thinks.

Confused that £600k is turned down for Newton Heath, but £750k appears for Moston? Or is it really £200k. I presume Ronnie Johnsen fields was already going to happen?

I dont get this one?

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downl
 
#106 · (Edited)
Am I the only one underwhelmed by this location?
Well the club did say the new site would be larger than Ten Acres and would offer more possibilities for the club in the future, there is not many sites around Manchester that can offer that scope and still keep costs down.

According to Google its a 15 minute walk from Newton Heath tram stop, so transport is a tick, there is also the Victoria - Rochdale train line just over the way so perhaps a future station is not out of the question, Ive not checked buses though.

And its in North Manchester, so we can really bed ourselves in and make a difference with the various communities of Moston, Newton Heath, Crumpsall, Cheetham Hill, Harpurhey, Broughton etc, just giving us enough space from our more esteemed neighbours.
 
#108 ·
I was confused about the funding too, were MCC putting up £1.2m originally and reduced it to £750k or were the funding issues not really on MCC side but the clubs side? Also worth noting MCC is continuing to invest in the facilities at the original site.

Newton Heath Metrolink stops not really great for large crowds either being one platform and having a huge access ramp to get to the platform from street level, but then a 6k capacity ground isnt going to attract huge numbers of Metrolink users.
 
#109 ·
I was confused about the funding too, were MCC putting up £1.2m originally and reduced it to £750k or were the funding issues not really on MCC side but the clubs side?

Nope neither

The council were putting in 650k for Ten Acres, this from memory was the value of the subsidy the council put into the sports hall plus cost for renovation. The sports hall I think is actually run by an external company (someone like Serco or Sodexo or of that ilk) but was still subsidised and it was up for tender at some point (or closed), something like that anyway, so with FC running the hall, the council no longer had to fund it plus it was getting a complete overhaul

The 750k mentioned here looks like a similar trade off between council and club, it does mention in the doc that the fields need renovation at a cost of 750k, which has already been approved, so there's your MCC money
 
#117 ·
Ground - update 6th April

The Executive Committee of the Council has today passed our application, subject to conditions and a planning application. We also need to consult with local residents and local community groups.

Further details will be given at tomorrow evening’s General Meeting of club members which takes place at the Central Methodist Hall, Oldham street, Manchester with a start time of 7pm.
 
#119 ·
The site is less than a mile from the new Newton Heath & Moston Tram Stop, roughly same distance as Gigg Lane from Bury Tram Stop, it'll offer services to Oldham/Rochdale, City Centre and South Manchester (Didsbury & Chorlton), this new stop should be open for season 2012/13, 15 minute walk. But there is also the Victoria Rochdale train line near by too (marked with the red square), so perhaps long term the area could have its own train station too.

 
#120 ·
It's also within walking distance for a large residential population in the area. A lot of new houses seem to be going up as well.

We're getting too concerned with distances from train stations, there are loads of bus services from all over North Manchester running through the area.

FC may have fallen on their feet here.
 
#121 ·
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...sidents-in-bid-to-block-fc-united-stadium-bid

Offside!: Moston residents in bid to block FC United stadium bid



Hundreds of people have launched a campaign to block a bid to use playing fields for a new stadium for rebel football club FC United of Manchester.

The club – formed in protest at the Glazer family’s ownership of Manchester United – want to build a 5,000 capacity stadium on the council-owned Ronald Johnson playing fields, close to St Mary’s Road and Lightbowne Road in New Moston.

But people living close to the site – currently home to a junior football team – have vowed to fight the plans. Nearly 1,000 have signed a petition against the proposals, which they are to take to the town hall.

FC United, who have played at Bury's Gigg Lane ground since being formed in 2005, want to move to Manchester. Joanne Hilton, who lives on St Mary’s Road, said: "The community does not want this. It’s our local field and it has always been for us.

"There isn’t much greenery in Moston and we don’t want a stadium here.

"It has nothing to do with football. This field was gifted to the public and nothing was ever meant to be built here. There will be crowds, cars and there will be alcohol and the problems that causes."

The plans are expected to go before the council for approval in July.Moston Juniors currently hold a lease at the site until 2032 and pay £1,000 rent a year.

A spokesman for Moston Juniors said they had held positive meetings with FC United and the council.

Andy Walsh, general manager of FC United, who play in English football's seventh tier, said: "Football matches would be played there 25 to 30 days a year.

"We have always dealt with things in an open and honest way.

"The people of Moston Juniors and Moston are the very people whose views we have to take into account. This is not just about football, it's about creating a community facility and that is all part of the consultation over the coming weeks."

Moston councillor Paul Murphy said that the plans were far from a done deal.

He said: "There is a covenant on the land and the Charity Commission need to be satisfied this can happen. And if Moston Juniors are not happy with the plans, this is not a goer."

Eamonn O'Rourke, from the council, said: "We asked FC United to carry out a full public consultation and this is now under way. All representations will be taken into consideration before any final decision is made."
 
#122 ·
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...ft-kicked-off-101-years-of-sport-in-community

Gift kicked off 101 years of sport in community
Mike Keegan



The Ronald Johnson playing fields were donated to the people of Moston in 1910 by the family who owned the nearby wire works.

Apart from a spell during and after World War Two when they were used to host prefabricated homes for those whose houses had been bombed, they have been used for football and cricket ever since.

The proposed stadium on the site replaces FC United's original plans to build a stadium at Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath which collapsed when the council withdrew £600,000 funding.

Town hall bosses blamed that withdrawal on government cuts.

However, a draft proposal for the new site shows that the council will spend £750,000 if the plans get the go-ahead - money which was earmarked for improvements to the Moston site in 2009. It includes £200,000 to be spent on feasibility plans and business studies.

That disclosure will no doubt add fuel to claims - denied by the council - that it pulled the plug on Ten Acres Lane to avoid upsetting Manchester City, who are set to pump millions into the area as part of a huge regeneration scheme.

FC United, which is run by fans, has always wanted to build a new home in Manchester and looked set for Ten Acres – symbolically close to where Manchester United were born.

It is understood that plans for Moston will be similar to those that were drawn up for Newton Heath – a stadium with a capacity of 5,000 with around 500-600 seats.

The plans would include an astro-turf pitch and a club house but there would be no sports centre.
 
#126 ·
I can bet now first if this wasn't FC, this story wouldn't have popped up. Secondly there are two others stories on the Evening News website where no authors are mentioned. It basically says because this small group of people have an issue, FC on principle shouldn't build it because its a peoples club but hold on, now this group of people have been wound up by some local City fans and the local media, FC on principle can't build their ground anywhere. If a local complains, those two awful stories say they shouldn't build a stadium. Well if they go along with that, it will never get built. There will always be someone with an issue with it. FC have to say no, its going to be built, deal with it because where else are they going to build their stadium? City had them fucked them off from down the road and now others are messing in their affairs. It's pretty sick, to read a story like on the Evening news website. Targeting a non-league club which has been fighting for six or seven years to get its own home. They have dropped very very low in the last few weeks. FC have even asked the locals to come and meet with them to discuss the plans? Why don't those 1,000 people go and talk to the club, rather than being wound up by Keegan and his City mates?
 
#125 ·
An interesting riposte from FC Fanzine A Fine Lung

http://www.afinelung.com/?p=2689

Beware the hypocrites in the hills

Today’s Oldham-based misnomer, the Manchester Evening News, carries an article from the point of view of residents opposed to FC United and Manchester City Council’s plans for a community football stadium in Moston.

Written by the same Oldham supporting, blue sympathising, little Ingerland, fake tan purveyer who disgraced himself with his anti-United tweets while spending the day with Bredbury city fans on Saturday, it puts the perspective across of residents from the area who feel aggrieved that their currently fenced off playing fields will be used for community benefit.

Furthermore, the Chadderton paper then sticks its oar in courtesy of its laughable editor’s comment page, where it calls into question FC United’s claims to be a community club.

The residents have every right to be worried and most of us would react the same way if there were plans to build a stadium near our own houses. They have every right to state their opinion and it will be them who shape the project equally as much as Moston Juniors and FC United. We must engage them and allay their fears if this project is to go ahead. They don’t deserve some of the criticism aimed their way from our less enlightened supporters, but they need to be won over.

It’s understandable that the newspaper would carry a story of a petition from residents opposed to a plan of this nature, but the prevalence given to it lacks perspective and the decision to add in a comment has to lead us to wonder what the paper’s agenda really is. Especially when they recently engineered it for the aforementioned anti-United yonner to become the main reporter on our quest for a ground.

Let’s not also forget that it was the Evening News, against the wishes of FC United, who broke the story when no one from the club was able to comment about Moston being the preferred location for a ground and that is one of the reasons the residents are understandably outraged.

It is also unbelievably hypocritical for a newspaper that abandoned the city of its roots to move out to the sticks against the wishes of its employees and readers (except the Oldham yonner responsible for the FC knocking story) to discuss the word ‘community’ at all.

The vast majority of those running the shambles that is Liverpool-based Trinity Mirror’s MEN Media know absolutely nothing about Manchester or its people. That’s why the paper, despite having some wonderfully dedicated journalists fighting to ply their trade against the backdrop of anti-union bullying and incompetent, talentless, sycophantic management staff, is a laughing stock in the city of its birth.

Pitching itself at commuters from the mill towns that surround Manchester, the Evening News long left its so-called community behind. The hard-working and talented staff on the ground do their best with poor resources, bullying, constant threats of redundancies and an employment policy that puts Oxbridge graduates far ahead of mancunians in the bloated journalist job queues.

FC United’s ‘community’ credentials are undoubted and anyone who saw Robin Pye’s presentation at the general meeting recently was left in awe at just how much good the club does throughout deprived areas of Greater Manchester. The same areas and the same work that MEN Media does not report on. The same areas that MEN Media no longer delivers its weekly papers to. The same areas that MEN Media decided didn’t deserve free weekly, local newspapers because those deprived areas didn’t bring any money into their business.

The comment is a blatant attempt to try and show the paper’s connection to the people of Moston, by backing a campaign that will ultimately hurt the local community if it is successful in blocking the project.

The editor is the person who oversaw the abandonment of Manchester by the paper that bears the city’s name. No amount of pandering to protest groups in order to appear ‘representative’, while knocking a club that is genuinely trying to make a positive difference to the city, will change that fact.

The MEN should be shouting with pride about the work an organisation like FC United carries out in Manchester. But instead it chooses to ignore it and now calls in to question its very being.

Get off your high horse Evening News and gallop back to the hills. To misquote a constantly mentioned ‘Diary’ celebrity favourite: ‘You say nothing to us about our lives.’

Stories here:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...sidents-in-bid-to-block-fc-united-stadium-bid

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...0_comment-goal-should-be-a-principled-result-
 
#127 ·
And now for some "Comment"

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...0_comment-goal-should-be-a-principled-result-

Comment: Goal should be a principled result

That this football minnow should now be on the receiving end of protest over the location of its first stadium bears a certain irony.

FC United had aspired to create its first home at Ten Acre Lane in Newton Heath. This was a site of enormous historical significance, since Manchester United evolved from a railway works team founded in Newton Heath in 1878.

The cuts made necessary by the savagely-reduced government grant settlement to Manchester city council meant the withdrawal of the council’s £600,000 funding for FC United’s stadium plan and a search for a new site.

The Ronald Johnson playing fields in Moston were the next choice for FC’s 5,000-capacity stadium. But this has not gone down well with local residents. Almost a thousand have signed a petition in opposition, with only a handful of locals expressing support for the proposal, say campaigners.

Offside!: Moston residents in bid to block FC United stadium bid

These residents do not just complain about crowds, cars, and the possible drunken rowdyism associated with football. They also have a principled objection, that this land was gifted to the public, and that nothing was supposed to be built here.

Local councillor Paul Murphy confirms that there is a covenant on the land, and this is a matter which will involve the Charity Commission.

There is another vital stakeholder in all this. Moston Juniors have a lease on this site until 2032, running 20 teams, from under-sixes to an adult first team. Whatever happens with FC United’s aspirations must not interfere with all these other teams from lower down football’s food chain.

So far FC United talk a good game. Football would only be played here 25 to 30 days a year, says Andy Walsh, general manager of the team. The new stadium would be even more accessible to the community than at present. Moston Juniors would be helped, not hindered.

This will be, one suspects, a long and tight match which may run into extra time. But it is absolutely vital that FC United and the city council find the reassurances necessary to make this happen with residents’ approval, not in the teeth of their opposition.

If FC United stands for anything, it stands for the idea of a football club for the people, not the vested interests. To build FC United’s first home in the midst of people who don’t want it would be a contradiction of its own founding principles.
 
#129 · (Edited)
Another MCC botch up. :wallbash:

As a one time LG suit, I can see the logic of MCC uniting monies for Broadhurst Park with the FCUM project. But in typical MCC fashion, the logic doesn't bare up with the facts of the ground. Erm literally in this case.

The Newton Heath site had greater economically, communitarian and public transport benefits and a lesser environment impact. Plus it was welcomed by the locals and has long term prospect and growth potential.

Developing the rundown site in Moston is beneficial. But only because Moston itself is a kip. Sorry to offend, but it is. It is limited in its growth potential. Of the six possible sites I could imagine that a sports complex could be built on in north and central Manchester, this is probably not the one I would have chose had I been at MCC.

But poor old FC. A honest and soundly driven sports club that wishes to be community orientated. Now faced with a mix bag of concerned locals not wishing their evenings to be floodlight to death, the usual NIMBYS, wannabe politicos and various mischief making football supporters from other clubs, who perhaps need to grow up if they are involved at all. And seemingly the usual misplaced cynicism of a falling local rag.

Well I can see alot of unnecessary bollix coming.
 
#130 ·
By the way that fanzine description of a certain perm a tan journo makes me howl. A man certain in his destiny to present on a minor sports channel I always thought?

Its an illumination show sometimes in yer Press Club!

Sadly I cringed reading the rest. Sounds just like those numpties who go on about Stretford being a foreign land!!


Yeah lots of unnecessary bollix for the sake of building a community sports project in various kips in the city centre.

Good grief! All it needs now is a monorail!
 
#131 ·
Revealed: FC United’s plans for new stadium in Moston

Exclusive by Mike Keegan

June 08, 2011



Home fixture: An artist’s impression of the proposed ground in Moston.

This is how the new home for FC United will look – if the club’s plans get the green light.

The exclusive first look at the artist’s impression reveals the breakaway outfit’s proposals for a 5,000-capacity home on Moston’s Ronald Johnson playing fields .

FC bosses believe the designs illustrate the ‘minimal impact’ the planned move will have on residents.

They say stands at the compact stadium will be no higher than a large semi-detached house and point to a host of community facilities included in the project which they believe will open what is currently a fenced-off area to those who live nearby.

The £3.5m plans include two youth pitches for Moston Juniors, who currently lease the playing fields from Manchester council, with the opportunity to play major matches in the stadium.

There will also be a full-sized artificial pitch, an open-to-the public medical room managed by club physios and balconies where parents can watch their kids play.

As part of their bid to create an environmentally-friendly distinctive facility, railway sleepers will be used on the exterior of the stadium. An IT learning room is also planned and the club’s car park may be opened to nearby St Mary’s Primary to alleviate school-run issues.

Trees will be planted around the project and the positioning of a car park means the ground itself will be at least 50 metres away from nearby houses.

The Rebels, formed as a co-operative in protest at the Glazer family’s ownership of Manchester United, will make a planning application in the next two months.

Club officials will also contact the Charity Commission in a bid to satisfy a covenant on part of the land in between St Mary’s Road and Lightbowne Road.

General manager Andy Walsh said: "This development isn’t just about football, it’s about creating a community facility with open access to the people of Moston and north Manchester. It’s about proposals that create the opportunity to enhance the existing provision in the local area.

"We are working in partnership with Moston Juniors and Manchester council and we’ve been in discussions with them for around 10-12 weeks.

"FC United are trying to minimise the impact on the local area and we want to reassure residents that their concerns will be listened to."

The club, who play in the seventh tier of English football, are currently voluntarily speaking to residents, some of whom have objected to their plans. Once the application goes in a period of formal consultation will take place before a verdict is reached.

The drawings are consultation drafts and may be amended before that application is made.

But Joanne Hilton, who lives on St Mary’s Road and has led protests against the scheme, remains unmoved.

She said: "They have spent a lot of time and money on the drawings and the plans would be great – for a brownfield site.

"But this is green land and we don’t want it. We surveyed people at one of the drop-ins and out of 221 people asked 170 were against it. This is not about football, it is about keeping that field for the people of Moston."

If the development goes ahead, FC United, who currently play at Bury’s Gigg Lane ground and attract average gates of around 2,000, will kick off at their new home in time for the 2012-2013 season.

Planning permission will be sought for all stands to be under cover but two may remain roofless if plans go over budget.

The site was identified as an alternative to Ten Acres Lane, Newton Heath, after Manchester council reallocated funding.

FC United are also looking to bring in additional funding to improve the pitches on nearby Broadhurst fields.

Chances to have your say ...

FC UNITED bosses are holding four drop-in sessions to get feedback from local people who will be affected by the plans.

Residents have launched a major attack on the proposals – claiming the stadium will bring anti-social behaviour and parking problems to their neighbourhood.

But general manager Andy Walsh said: "We recognise that the residents are anxious about the disruption that the proposals might bring. We want to reassure people that this is a small football ground with a maximum capacity of 5,000.

"In five years at Gigg Lane, we have only had a handful of incidents of anti-social behaviour. We recognise parking is an issue but we are working with residents to address that."

The drop-in sessions will be at Moston Methodist Church on June 21, 6pm-8pm; Moston Labour Club on June 22, 6-8pm; North City Library on June 29 from 6pm-8pm and at the Miners Community Centre on June 30 from 6pm-8pm.

Mr Walsh said: "This is not a done deal so we want to hear any concerns so we can take these into consideration as we develop our proposals."
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...ed-fc-uniteds-plans-for-new-stadium-in-moston
 
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