POOLE Town FC have unveiled plans to create a community sports village that would see the building of a new stadium for the club as well as providing facilities for the wider community to use.

The concept plan, which is the collective brain child of Poole Town Football Club, YMCA Bournemouth, and the Gale Foundation Trust CIO, would see the creation of facilities on a green space in Creekmore as part of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP), Council’s Local Plan consultation.

The organisations say they are now seeking “support and investment to enable the delivery of this scheme”.

Picture: Poole Town FC

As well as a new football ground and training space for Poole Town, the concept includes increased nursery facilities, a community hub, a multi-use games area, cycle and walking links, a sports centre and sports village comprising of independent sport and recreation providers.

The future of the whole scheme is reliant on support from key stakeholders including BCP Council. The land must first be allocated for community benefit in the pending BCP Local Plan to enable the delivery of this scheme.

Poole Town has been without a permanent home since the early 90s, having led a nomadic life since then with the club currently playing their football at Tatnam Farm, adjacent to Oakdale Junior School.

Richard Gale, director and community officer at Poole Town FC, says that in addition to the men’s first team, the club have an Under 23’s side as well as two ladies’ teams who all struggle to find pitches to play and train on due to the severe lack of sports facilities within BCP.

The proposal would make use of land north of Upton Road Picture: Google Maps

The club has been supporting the wider community through its Kids Initiative CIC which has a mission to involve local children in the fun of football and provide support to those facing physical, emotional, or financial hardship.

This year alone, the Kids Initiative has already run approximately 200 free football coaching sessions for children aged five to 13.

The club runs hour-long classes at three venues a week, as well as providing free-of-charge coaching to schools.

Bayside Academy in Turlin Moor recently benefitted from a six-week long coaching course for a new team that the Kids Initiative helped set-up, and Heatherlands Primary School was able to offer pupils access to an eight-week programme as part of an FA Pilot scheme.

In addition to free coaching, Poole Town Football Club also facilitates coach and player attendance at several early intervention courses held in Poole secondary schools during the year.

As well as offering time and expertise, the Kids Initiative has also donated £3,000 towards the cost of the courses over the past 12 months.

Speaking about the work of the Kids Initiative Gareth Sherwood, CEO of YMCA Bournemouth, said: “All the evidence suggests that the more we invest in the development of children and young people, the better our society will be in the long term. I am so grateful to the Club for the ongoing, longstanding, and purposeful work it is doing with children and families in the community.”

Poole Town Football Club’s work with schools also enables children to benefit from free match tickets, and access to new and reconditioned kit and equipment.

Hillbourne Primary School, situated between Creekmoor and Broadstone, is a recent beneficiary of Poole Town FC’s support.

The club supplied the school with 20 pairs of football boots, school award tickets, and free family vouchers to Poole Town matches, encouraging pupils to further engage in football as a healthy outlet.

Laura Bennett, head teacher at Hillbourne Primary School, said: “Poole Town FC has enabled us to offer our children so many more opportunities than they’d usually have access to. The response from our pupils has been outstanding, and we’ve seen huge benefits on an individual and school-wide level.

“Richard and the team have provided a direction for the school when it comes to getting more pupils involved in sports. Their eagerness to work with the community is amazing and we’re incredibly thankful for the generous support. We look forward to developing our relationship with the club even further next term.”