MALVERN Town Football Club will be staying in Pickersleigh the director has vowed, following a move to secure the future of its Langland Stadium home.
In the last few days a deal has been thrashed out which will see Malvern Hills District Council purchase the Langland Avenue ground and lease it back to the club for the next two years.
Director Ted Grizzell said the news was ‘huge’ and reiterated the vision was to be an inclusive sports club which was a benefit to the community as well as representing the pinnacle of football in Malvern.
He told the Observer: “Its great news for the club and a real positive for the local area, and we believe this can have huge long term effects.
“It also gives the club the security of having our home. We want to increase the identity in the local area as well get the wider community more involved.
“There is no immediate desire to move we really want to reinvigorate the current site.
“I hope we reach a point where we have got so much going on here we think maybe we do need an Astroturf, or extra pitches.
“We wouldn’t rule out looking to expand, but we are in focusing on investing in what is currently here.”
The council was given first opportunity to buy the stadium due to a clause in the original agreement to sell it the trustees of the club in 1956.
The executive committee gave the green light for the move last week with several councillors recognising the deal as a great opportunity for the council.
Malvern Town currently compete in the West Midlands League Premier Division six tiers below the football league, however Coun Tom Wells said the club should think big and consider moving location.
“I am not entirely certain this is the best location to fulfil the club’s vision.
“I can’t help thinking we should not exclude the possibility of releasing this site and identifying one with greater accessibility on better transport routes.
“There is no reason Malvern can’t get into the football league, there are plenty of other towns in there.”
Several members disagreed arguing the club was of too much importance to the Pickersleigh area.
Deputy leader Paul Swinburn said: “The point is this is an important resource in a deprived community. That in my mind makes it all the more important why we have got to get it right.
“Moving the club to another location would do considerable damage to its existing support.”
