Royals announce range of stadium improvements
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER have announced that a variety of ‘summer renovations’ will be carried out at their On-Site Group Stadium in preparation for their 2024-25 campaign; the club hoping to improve facilities to meet increased demand and ensure the ground is suitable for potentially higher divisions as they continue to build their “status” at non-league levels.
The Royals have recieved grants totalling around £50,000 towards this work following a successful season of 2023-24; in which they won the Hampshire Senior Cup and narrowly missed out on promotion in the play-offs. There was further an increase in hospitality sales and ‘matchday’ revenue due to average crowds of four hundred fans per league match.
Their first renovation focuses around a fresh kitchen facility, which is currently being installed and looks likely to be fully completed within the coming weeks. A grant of £3,000 has been provided by Howdens as part of their ‘Game Changer’ scheme towards the costs of this work; which will provide a serving area for matchdays and provide hospitality support.
A second grant of £45,000 has been secured from the ‘Premier League Stadium Fund’s Club Development Fund’ for a number of renovations on some of the current buildings inside the stadium. This will cover a replacement of flat roofing on areas including the main clubhouse, first team changing room block and storage space facilities within this stadium.
This will be followed by remedial works such as damaged floors or ceilings, and walls that could have been affected by wet weather. Plumbing improvements are further due to take place as the club brings toilets and showers back into use within the home changing room bloock; whilst the safe replacement of other fixtures and fittings should upkeep the site.
Work has also started to improve the playing surface after last season’s issues across the area, although Portchester’s ground was able to play most games according to the original fixture list despite awful winter weather. Overall a total of £60,000 will be spent covering these improvements listed above, of which the two financial grants have been included.
Readers can read full comments from club chairman Paul Kelly online, whilst they are able to see further details about ticket prices for 2024-25 on their official club website. Fixtures and signings will be announced when they are available.
PICTURED BY DANIEL HASWELL: AFC Portchester have announced a range of summer renovations for the summer.
