Stamford AFC promises to address parking issues

A football club has promised to address the parking issues that were the only blight on the first match at its new stadium.

Stamford AFC began life at the Zeeco Stadium in Ryhall Road with a fixture against Nantwich Town on Saturday.

The match was played in front of a bumper crowd of 800 people, with many supporters arriving by car.

The car park at the Borderville Sports Centre complex filled up by 2.30pm and club stewards had to turn fans away. As a result many parked on the grass verge along Ryhall Road.

Yesterday a spokesman said: “The club will be holding a committee meeting tonight to discuss the successes of our opening game and any areas for improvement, including the parking situation.

“Announcements will be made on this ahead of our Boxing Day fixture against Grantham Town.”

Several people wrote to the Mercury to complain about the parking. One Ryhall resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the situation could lead to a “loss of life in the worst case scenario”.

He said: “On Saturday we were travelling into Stamford from Ryhall. When we reached the top of the incline at Borderville that is a few hundred yards before the new football ground I narrowly missed someone that was trying to get into his car.”

The resident added: “The extent of the parking went from the lay-by just before Borderville to filling the car park at Travis Perkins. Clearly this is an issue which needs to be addressed before a serious incident happens.”

A Stamford resident, who also asked for anonymity, said: “It was chaos. The car park was full by 2.30pm. People were being sent away by one elderly steward, and they then had to reverse straight onto the main road.”

○ A wheelbarrow relay was held on Friday last week to bring turf from the old ground in Wothorpe Road to Borderville. The club wanted to make sure those who had their ashes scattered there were remembered.