Ground redevelopment

Thamesmead Town F.C. and Trust Thamesmead announce £3.85m redevelopment of Bayliss Avenue ground

Thamesmead Town manager Keith McMahon has today revealed that the promotion chasing Kent League club are submitting planning permission to Bexley Council to build a “Mini-Dartford” at their current ground at Bayliss Avenue, writes Stephen McCartney.

With assistance from Trust Thamesmead, a registered charity working to build a brighter future for the town, the club are planning to build a Blue Square Southern standard stadium at a cost of at least £3.85m in time for the 2008-09 season.

McMahon revealed that the plans are for a new 500-seater stand, the same quality playing surface as Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium, new clubhouse and an indoor training facility - all taking around nine months to complete.

“It’s a big thing going off, which the secretary and I have been fronting with Thamesmead Trust and it looks like it’s going to take place at the end of winter, beginning of Spring,” McMahon revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The pitch itself won’t get touched and the original clubhouse and dressing rooms will remain in place until the new clubhouse and dressing rooms will be finalised. The new stadium will be built around us.”

McMahon is confident that the club’s average attendance of 64 will increase once they’re playing in their “Mini-Dartford.”

He said: “It’s very exciting to be fair. Dartford gave us a great tour of their ground and looked after us very well.

“It won’t be as spectacular as Dartford but it will be special - that’s why the players are staying.”

McMahon, praised Trust Thamesmead for their efforts in improving not only the facilities at the football club - but the town itself.

“What we’re looking at is a Conference South stadium - the Trust have got behind us this year,” he said. “I can’t go into figures on whose paying what as it’s unfair, but it’s going to cost £3.85m - it could go up a little bit more.

“Bexley Council will be involved but it’s Thamesmead Trust whose doing it. A lot of credit is going to them. They’re working with us and they want a big sporting complex in Thamesmead - it will be a massive bonus to us."

“We’ve sat down with Thamesmead Trust and it’s a big area and there’s nothing there for them (the local community). “They need something attractive that the community will use. It will be for Thamesmead Town Football Club and it can only strengthen the club - it’s a massive opportunity for us.

“We’ve been given this great opportunity and we want to make it right.”

Thamesmead’s leading development charity, Trust Thamesmead has appointed architectures Saville Jones Partnership to achieve it’s aspirations for the Sporting Club Thamesmead project. “The new facilities will be used to provide new and improved community and sporting activities for local residents,” said Trust Thamesmead’s Chief Executive Mick Hayes. “They will also continue to provide the clubhouse and home of Thamesmead Town Football Club who currently occupy the site.

“The new sports hub will provide flexible accommodation for a number of activities but will primarily support facilities for activities taking place on the proposed third generation synthetic turf pitch and two mulet use games areas.”

Further news, pictures and photographs of the development will be continue published on this page until the completion of the development