‘We don’t want to go backwards!’ Spalding United faces planning decision which could decide league standing
A football club hopes councillors are onside with their request to keep two spectator stands at their stadium - with one official saying: “We don’t want to go backwards.”
South Holland District Council’s planning committee will meet tonight (Wednesday May 7) to discuss Spalding United’s retrospective application to erect the stands and new dug-outs at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.
Planners have recommended the application be passed, but if councillors turn down the request it could mean calling full time on the Tulips’ hopes of remaining in the Southern League Central Premier division.
United - who announced a £1 million investment in the stadium, including a new artificial pitch, a further stand and dressing room upgrade last week - installed the 100-seater spectator area plus standing terrace last summer to meet ground grading requirements to allow them to play at step three of the footballing pyramid.
If they were forced to take them down they could be demoted from the league, where they finished seventh in their first campaign following promotion in the 2023-24 season.
“The ground grading means you have pitch requirements and if you don’t hit that then the ultimate thing is relegation,” Tulips CEO Leigh Porter explained.
“But we’re a club that doesn’t want to go backwards, we want to go forwards. That would obviously be an issue for us.”
Porter pointed to the recent 5-0 home win against rivals Stamford where there still wasn’t enough cover for the 901-strong bumper crowd.
“It was raining and we don’t have the facilities yet where everyone can come and enjoy a game under cover,” he added.
“We’re working hard on that.”
The planning officer report said: “This is a full planning application seeking retrospective permission for the erection of a 100-seat spectator stand, standing terrace and two dugout shelters at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, Kings Road, Spalding.
“The works are required on site due to the club recently being promoted and therefore they must upgrade their facilities in line with FA Requirements, the club have also received funding through an FA grant.
“The dug-outs will be sited to the west of the playing field, running parallel with Winfrey Avenue. The seated stand is located directly opposite this, on the other side of the pitch, with the covered stand on the northern side adjacent to Kings Road.”
