Spalding United wants Sir Halley Stewart Field to become community focal point

Spalding United has spelled out their vision for the future - where they hope the club can become a focal point for the community.

Tulips Chief Executive Leigh Porter has recently talked about the Northern Premier League Midlands highflyers’ desire to gain at least two promotions, but first securing a lease to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field from South Holland District Council.

This would allow United to apply for grants to help them meet ground grading criteria at higher levels.

But Mr Porter is adamant he hopes any potential improvements at the Winfrey Avenue site would be a benefit to more than just the football club.

“It (the stadium) has to serve more community groups and bring more people into the heart of Spalding, enhancing the football club and a number of different groups, activities and businesses,” he explained.

“Spalding as a town is massive ly under-served for sports facilities.

“We’re massively behind the Castle Sport Complex bid (for funding to make site improvements) but there’s already a facility in the heart of town that we want to make a shining light.

“We fully recognise a progressive football club should benefit the entire community.”

The football pitch and facilities are currently home to the Tulips - the only unbeaten side in the top 16 leagues in the country this season - and neighbours Pinchbeck United, who play in the United Counties League Premier.

But Mr Porter has a vision for more teams, clubs and groups calling the site home.

“We want to be able to accommodate more than Spalding and Pinchbeck,” he added.

“We have 20-30 teams from under nines to virtual senior teams that can’t train in Spalding as there’s no facilities.

“We look at teams we go to like Sutton Coldfield, Sporting Khalsa, Bedworth - they have wonderful facilities that are used significantly more than the Sir Halley Stewart.

“These developments have galvanised the clubs and communities, Market Harborough is another example.

“One club runs a senior citizen’s club, offering food and drink to get older fans in the ground early. That’s a great idea.

“Halmer Harriers are using our clubhouse as a base, the Spalding Homing Society use it as a base.

“Other groups, like netball teams, use the clubhouse for meetings, saying if the facilities are bigger and better they’d use it on permanent basis.

“We want to be loud and proud about the fact we’re Spalding and doing well.

“We want to integrate into the community and establish something that’s pretty special.”

“We want it to be still owned by the community but we want to make it better.

“We can only grow as a football club if the facilities improve.”