WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC AND FOREST HALL UNITE TO WITH GROUNDSHARE AGREEMENT
The committees of West Allotment Celtic and Forest Hall YPC can confirm that we have agreed a long-term groundshare agreement at East Palmersville Sports Pavilion.
The move will see the Northern League Division Two club end their time playing at Druid Park and move into their new home in time for the start of next season.
The move will provide a boost for Northern Alliance club Forest Hall, who recently took over the lease of the centre from North Tyneside Council.
The agreement will help cement the future of the centre and will offer improved facilities and service to the local community, who are well known for their passion for football.
A key part of reaching the agreement has been the support of the Football Foundation and the supervision of Adrian Morris, who has supported the initiative over the last two years with his guidance and financial support.
The clubs have secured funding from the Football Foundation and it is expected that the ground upgrade to meet Northern League criteria will be completed by August 2020.
Both the Northern League and Northern Alliance are aware, engaged and supportive of the plans.
West Allotment Celtic chairman Jim Wilson said: “This is a magnificent partnership that will provide a superb facility for the local community, whilst massively helping the development of two long standing local football clubs.
“Everyone at West Allotment Celtic cannot wait to get started at Palmersville and continue to build on the already strong relationship that we have with Forest Hall FC and Forest Hall YPC.
“The club has been based away from its community for almost 25 years now, so it is wonderful to be heading home at long last.
“It has only happened due to the unstinting effort and generosity of many people over many, many months.
“All at West Allotment Celtic will strive to reward this determination by bringing Northern League Division One football to East Palmersville as soon as possible.
“It would be fantastic if this journey is supported by as many local people as possible.
“We promise to provide the highly entertaining football that the new facility deserves.”
Forest Hall’s Senior Football Representative Dale Outerside commented: “We are all delighted, excited and looking forward to getting started.
“West Allotment Celtic is a club with a long and successful history and tradition in local football here, and for us to be in a position to link up is fantastic.
“Our team will continue to be based around giving opportunity to young players.
“For those who have the drive to want to progress within the non-league football system then this link up can really help and support them.
“Our facilities will be first class and I am very hopeful that the local community will get on board and support both teams going forward.”
Forest Hall YPC Centre Supervisor Sam Corbett is looking forward to seeing months of hard work come to fruition when redevelopment work is completed.
She said: “I am thrilled to be part of this exciting new development at the Pavillion, it’s great to see our dreams of high standard facilities come to fruition.
“Over recent months we have been working hard to support and build firm links with our wider community and this will definitely encourage more interest and engagement from both young and old.
“I look forward to welcoming West Allotment Celtic on board.”
More news over the redevelopment of East Palmersville Sports Pavilion will be announced in the near future. Finally having a home at Forest Hall will be great news for our juniors too as ball boy/girl opportunities will be five minutes down the road. Our juniors will also get free entry into all West Allotment home games with parents paying a reduced rate.
