Fylde's Ground

[optomisticsupporter]

Does anyone know the if the ruling about ground grading for the Conference premier as I don't think Fylde's ground will meet that ruling, I know they are building a new ground but will it be ready, I remember when Barrow under Lee Turnbull's first season in charge could have gone up in second place because the team that won the league (could have been Winsford) did not meet the criteria, but we sold Hume and dropped wages with only 6/7 games to go and ended up in 4/5 place (no play offs then I believe) does anybody know if that is the case now.

[Richard Ingham]

I think they are negotiating a ground share with Blackpool or Fleetwood to cover the period while their new ground is still under construction.

[K_BFC]

Does anyone know the if the ruling about ground grading for the Conference premier as I don't think Fylde's ground will meet that ruling, I know they are building a new ground but will it be ready

I'm not even sure their current ground meets Conference North standards. Clubs are usually given a years grace to come up to stardard or they are supposed to be automatically relegated. I say "usually" and "supposed" as a number of clubs have been given extensions beyond normal, Northwich Victoria before they went bust was one such club that was allowed to continue despite the ground not even been fully built.

Fylde start building their new ground next month (Feb 2015) and it is not expected to be ready until January 2016. As Richard says in the meantime they are making arrangements for the first half of next season. Not sure if they intend to ground share regardless of whether they gain promotion or not. They were trying to upgrade the current ground to a grade B (Conference North) ground and they have the capacities right but the rest of the ground really does look to be lacking.

You can check out the ground grade standards for non-league here.

AFC Fylde have
Capacity of just over 3000.
single stand with 282 covered seats with additional cover for 800 standing.
4 spectator entrances (as far as I could tell, only 2 ever in use as the other 2 get blocked off by parked cars)

Conference North requirements
Capacity 3000 with capacity to support 4000 in the future.
Cover for 500 supporters of which 250 must be seats. (seats must be in one stand)
6 spectator entrances (doesn't mean they all need to be in use)

Conference National requirements
Capacity 4000 with capacity to support 5000 in the future.
Minimum of 500 covered seats (at least one stand must have 250, but no stand less than 100)
8 spectator entrances (doesn't mean they all need to be in use)

[optomisticsupporter]

Clearly they do not meet even C.N. as for ground sharing I think Fleetwood would not Blackpool May, but does anyone know the other question, could the 2nd placed team be promoted if they do not meet these standards and no ground share was available.

[HenneysKnee]

They will be fine when they win the league, they've got a year to sort their ground (which they are doing by building a new one) or the option of a ground share. Clutching at straws already!

[mrsenario]

What annoys me is they can get BAE wharton to sponsor them and we have 2 huge BAE signs in the racks under the stand and we cant get a deal from the major employer in the town...come on steve casson if you are reading this

[The Real Slim Azza]

Does anyone know the if the ruling about ground grading for the Conference premier as I don't think Fylde's ground will meet that ruling, I know they are building a new ground but will it be ready, I remember when Barrow under Lee Turnbull's first season in charge could have gone up in second place because the team that won the league (could have been Winsford) did not meet the criteria, but we sold Hume and dropped wages with only 6/7 games to go and ended up in 4/5 place (no play offs then I believe) does anybody know if that is the case now.

Youve got that all kinds of wrong.

We finished third and needed to finish second

Hucknall won the league but thier ground wasnt up to scratch, i think it was Droylsden who were second, if it ws they couldnt go up for the same reason.

[The Real Slim Azza]

What annoys me is they can get BAE wharton to sponsor them and we have 2 huge BAE signs in the racks under the stand and we cant get a deal from the major employer in the town...come on steve casson if you are reading this

WHO!? Hahaha

[barrowfan]

I thought I read somewhere that they had to make improvements to their current ground by the end of March this year or they couldn't go up.

[whitty1969]

Lets not get too carried away, we should not be pinning our promotion hopes up on what Fylde have to do to their ground.
Fact of the matter is we were 5 pts clear and we have blown it.
The football we are playing at the moment won't even guarantee 2nd place.
We need to improve dramatically to remain in the play-off spots. People won't like what I'm saying but its true.
Getting some of our injured players back will be a good start, a couple of quality signings is a must.

[mickycarrol]

What annoys me is they can get BAE wharton to sponsor them and we have 2 huge BAE signs in the racks under the stand and we cant get a deal from the major employer in the town...come on steve casson if you are reading this

WHO!? Hahaha

Paul's son who is now barrow based trying to attract sponsors to club??????

[A.B.]

Let's face it, they'll sort out something in order to get promoted.

[boyliegladbach]

WHO!? Hahaha

Paul's son who is now barrow based trying to attract sponsors to club??????

He's to busy down the food bank

[The Real Slim Azza]

come on steve casson if you are reading this

Christ! He will be FESTUNED in jizz if everyone does that!

[K_BFC]

I thought I read somewhere that they had to make improvements to their current ground by the end of March this year or they couldn't go up.

The category B ground grading document which is Conference North level on the FA's site (link) states...

To qualify for promotion to the Football Conference Premier Division by winning the respective NORTH/SOUTH Championship and for the club to participate in the promotion play off matches, the ground must achieve a Category “B” Grading together with 500 seats under cover by 31st March in each season.

I doubt they will have 500 seats in place by the then, temporary structures are not allowed. They would have to get a move on to comply. It is obvious the club on the field is outstripping the club off the field despite the money available, easily done, but most clubs simply sink back down again and find their natural level. Fylde aren't natural.

They may not be eligible for promotion, but as mention earlier Northwich got away (for 2 years?) not having a suitable grade A ground. As Fylde will have a ground better than grade A and suitable for entry into the Football League by the middle of next season, the conference may decide to wave the requirement if they can guarantee they have a ground share with a suitable club in place by March 31st. A ground share is probably what they are banking on. If they win the league or the play offs I don't think the conference will stop them going up given the progress they are making and intend to make.

I'd be more worried about ourselves if somehow we miraculously pulled off two promotions in a row only to be denied entry to the league as the ground is a few months away from being up to standard.