DOCSLIB.ORG

Ahead of Ethe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ahead of Ethe Euan Grant has come a long way in four and a half years and now has one of the most interesting and diverse jobs possible. GamAhead of ethe Above: The course is carved from a wonderful piece of land Below: Euan Grant with Westerham In the Assistant's Profiles which charge of his own 18 hole course. Oh, which was to drag him back to the Head Greenkeeper, appear regularly in Greenkeeper and he's also the man in charge of mainland, amend his ultimate goal, Chris Moor International trie final question, another 18 holer just about to open; and give him the sort of opportunity "What do you expect to be doing in Head Groundsman at two football many more experienced greenkeepers 10 year's time?" invariably produces training grounds and an advisor for would give their eye teeth for. the response "Be a Head two football league grounds. In total "I was in the Mess Room and some- Greenkeeper or Course Manager at a he has around 20 people under his one handed my a mobile phone. The top club," although occasionally charge. voice on the other end said 'It's Ron someone says "Spending my lottery When Euan first came to the green- Noades here. I know you're coming millions." keeping world's notice he was over to Harrogate next week. Can Euan Grant, the 1994 Toro Student working at Effingham Golf Club but you come and see me?" said Euan of the Year, is well ahead of sched- it was not long before he moved to who admitted that, being a rugby ule... and some. Unfortunately for take up the Deputy Head man, he had no idea he was speaking him he is not enjoying the fruits of Greenkeeper's job at Royal Jersey, a to the famous Crystal Palace successfully picking the same six links course which, as part of his mas- Chairman, and the man who after numbers as those thrown up by ter plan, was supposed to open the famously selling the club to Mark Lancelot one Saturday night but door eventually to him working at an Goldberg, is now Chairman/Manager that, a mere four and a half years Open venue. of Brentford. after becoming top student, he is in He then received the telephone call "I mouthed the name 'Ron Noades' to the boys and when I came off the When Euan started in 1996 he woodland, assisted by the great storm phone they being football fans, asked joined Chris Moor, then Deputy and of 1987 when a lot of mature trees if it was THE Ron Noades. I said I now Head Greenkeeper, as half of a were blown down, and was planned didn't know but that I was to meet staff of two. out using aerial photographs and him at Selhurst Park." "I met Chris on site and had a dis- ordinance survey maps. That meeting was to see him cussion about how things were going "There was a lot of natural regener- installed as Head man at the still to and what we were going to do,' ation over the 242 acres and we've be opened Westerham Golf Club, explained Euan, 28. done an awful lot of thinning of trees near Biggin Hill, in Kent, and subse- "I had pages of A4 notes with ques- which were just six inches apart," quently to be Clerk of Works and the tions I hadn't, at that point, been explained Euan. man responsible for the successful able to get answers to and we went With Westerham on the right growing in of the new and spectacu- through them all," recalled Chris, track, the excellent new clubhouse is Far right: A beautiful lar Happy Valley Golf Club, in whose duties had included carrying nearing completion, attention was vista of Westerham Golf Caterham, Surrey; developing the bags of fertiliser on foot for up to a turned towards Streete Court, and Club and beyond Crystal Palace Training Ground at mile, returning for more, and then Crystal Palace's training ground. Streete Court in Godstone, assisting going round the green with a hopper. "We developed Streete Court Below: The Westerham with Brentford's training ground "The two biggest hurdles we had to which has five Premier League stan- greenkeeping team with at Griffin Park, and Brentford's overcome was staff and money. We dard training pitches and six acres of Lossie, the extra member stadium. had no staff and no money. So we put formal gardens which we maintain. a plan together and took it to Ron "The pitches are sand construction and told him that we needed to with full irrigation, dwarf rye which spend £250,000 straight away or he we've over sown with fescue and it wasn't going to have his course open has established well. The first year in a year from then. was bliss, but then the players came "Ron is a very fair and reasonable down and anyone involved with foot- man and although it took him by ball training will know what damage surprise he gave us the money and 70 people training seven days a week gave us the staffing," said Euan, who - because they've also got a School of also appreciates the benefits of work- Excellence at the weekend - can do." ing for a football man for whom a Being involved in both greenkeep- quarter of a million represents the ing and groundsmanship has given fee for a reserve goalkeeper. Euan an insight into what is required They then head hunted some good to achieve success in each. greenkeepers, persuading them that "The general skills of turf mainte- Westerham would be a good move nance are the same but the for them. The club started selling headaches are completely different. I memberships and as it looked like a do lots of aeration during the sum- golf course, and a fine one at that mer period on the golf courses, prior to opening, 1000 were sold in normally the final aeration we do is about six weeks. about October and we won't do any The course is cut from heavy more until we start vertidraining the ARRIVES TO CONQUER ALL TERRAINS THE OFF ROAD, OFF THE BEATEH TRACK, Go WHERE YOU NEED TO GO VEHICLE. • 11 HP, 351 cc Engine with Pedal Start • 4-Wheel Brakes • 6.4" Ground Clearance under Differential • Indepedent Front Suspension • Rear Suspension with Heavy-Duty Stabilizer Bar • Brush Guard • Differential Guard • Aluminium Frame, Chassis and Cargo Bed • Heavy-Duty All-Terrain or Turf Tyres • Light Bar, Winch and Many Other Accessories Available A COMBINATION OF POWER & VERSATILE PERFORMANCE. To UNLOCK THE PRICE... JJTL CALL 01235537575 Now! fairways in March. That is pretty Management when he moved into much the same with the football. greenkeeping and is keen to promote "The only time we have a worry is the benefits of education to his team. when we get a bit of compaction on "I spend a lot of time looking into the football grounds and we then greenkeeper education. I do believe choose the driest day to get out there that the NVQ system is the way to go and open the surface up." but feel that after Level 2 there isn't With Streete Court on track, atten- a great deal of scientific knowledge. I tion was then turned to the don't want to put a 19 year old lad construction of Happy Valley Golf on to Level 3, because I don't think Club which if Euan and Ron are to be he's either ready for it or needs the believed is on an even finer piece of type of information that is being golfing land than Westerham. taught at that stage in his career." "It has been designed by David Euan is therefore investing in more Williams who also did Westerham, practical courses, covering among and where Westerham is shorter and others First Aid, Chainsaws ana tighter Happy Valley is long and spraying. open. They're both going to be real "We nave a fairly formal education tests of golf." plan on site which takes the Black Euan was the Clerk of Works of the Book a stage further for the^uys who Happy Valley site ensuring that all have got Level 2. Chris, Mark decisions and plans were followed Thornton (Head Greenkeep-er at through and he ensured that green- Happy Valley) and myself will get keeping staff were employed from an them to do not just wnat the Black early stage. Book says but how we want it done "That meant when something was as well." done we were straight on top of it to With regard to his own education, assist with the finishing off." bearing in mind his role is more With three main sites in Caterham, administrative and the time spent Godstone and Westerham Euan out on the course working is limited, spends quite a bit of time behind the it is perhaps surprising that he sees wheel but it also has resulted in the soil science rather than budgeting employment of a mechanic, Trevor and managerial skills as the way he Tuppen, to work between all three wants to go. sites. There is a workshop at each "The majority of my job is looking BIGGA meetings to give them a bit keep on getting bigger. venue, and a driver, who works close- for ways to make the company as effi- of knowledge. They could then see "Four and a half years ago I'd have ly with the mechanic to transport cient as possible and it is not possible where the money is being spent." been looking to have definitely been machinery from site to site.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes This Summer Is a Critical Moment in London’S Football History
    Culture, Sport and Tourism Away from home Scrutiny of London’s Football Stadiums June 2003 Culture, Sport and Tourism Away from home Scrutiny of London’s Football Stadiums June 2003 copyright Greater London Authority June 2003 Published by Greater London Authority City Hall The Queen’s Walk London SE1 2AA www.london.gov.uk enquiries 020 7983 4100 minicom 020 7983 4458 ISBN 1 85261 496 1 Cover photograph credit EMPICS Sports Photo Agency This publication is printed on recycled paper Chair’s Foreword The move by Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes this summer is a critical moment in London’s football history. This move prompted the London Assembly’s Culture, Sport and Tourism committee to look into the issue of redevelopment for London clubs. With Fulham and Brentford yet to secure new stadiums for their clubs and question marks remaining over Arsenal’s and Tottenham’s grounds the issue is a live one. We do not want to see more clubs leave London. During the 2002/03 season about 5 million fans watched professional football in London. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Londoners participate every year in club sponsored community projects and play football. This report seeks to ensure that this added value isn’t lost to Londoners. We did not set out to judge local situations but to tease out lessons learnt by London football clubs. Football is more than just a business: the ties that a club has with its area and the fans that live or come from there are great. We recommend that more clubs have supporters on their board and applaud the work of Supporters Direct in rejuvenating the links between clubs and their fan base.
    [Show full text]
  • APPENDIX 8 – BRENTFORD FC PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT Agenda Item 5
    APPENDIX 8 – BRENTFORD FC PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT Agenda Item 5 PLANNING COMMITTEE 5 December 2013 References: P/2013/1811 00703/A/P11 Address: Land at Lionel Road South, Brentford, TW8 9QR Proposal: Full Planning Permission for the demolition of all existing buildings and the erection of a stadium with ancillary accommodation (D2 Use Class), associated infrastructure including a new vehicular and pedestrian bridge from the eastern corner of the site into Capital Interchange Way, reopening of an existing pedestrian underpass from Kew Bridge Station beneath Lionel Road South and the construction of a new covered, open sided link from that underpass to the stadium external concourse, vehicular and pedestrian circulation areas, public realm improvements, 60 car parking spaces, 400 cycle parking spaces and landscaping; and Outline Planning Permission for the demolition of all existing buildings and erection of associated enabling development, comprising up to 910 residential units (C3 Use Class), up to 1,200sqm retail/other floorspace (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, D1 and D2 Use Classes), a hotel of up to 160 bedrooms (C1 Use Class), vehicular and pedestrian circulation areas, up to 775 car parking spaces, cycle parking, associated hard and soft landscaping and public and private amenity spaces (all matters reserved). This application has been referred to Planning Committee as a planning application subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment, which departs from the Development Plan, and would require a legal deed if approved. Application received: 3 June 2013 1.0 SUMMARY 1.1 The application proposes a new stadium for Brentford Football Club (BFC), moving its home ground to Lionel Road South.
    [Show full text]
  • Voetbalreisgids Arsenal
    Voetbalreisgids Arsenal Ga voorbereid op reis naar Arsenal en haal het maximale uit uw voetbalweekend! Informatie over VoetbalreizenXL, Arsenal, de reis met praktische informatie en de stad Londen. Inhoudsopgave Over VoetbalreizenXL .............................................................................................................................. 2 De Club .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geschiedenis Arsenal .......................................................................................................................... 3 Nederlanders bij Arsenal ..................................................................................................................... 3 Stadioninfo .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Zitplaatsen ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Hoe bij het stadion te komen? ............................................................................................................ 5 Wat te doen voor de wedstrijd? ......................................................................................................... 5 De Reis ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Praktische
    [Show full text]
  • SOCCERNOMICS NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller International Bestseller
    4color process, CMYK matte lamination + spot gloss (p.2) + emboss (p.3) SPORTS/SOCCER SOCCERNOMICS NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER “As an avid fan of the game and a fi rm believer in the power that such objective namEd onE oF thE “bEst booKs oF thE yEar” BY GUARDIAN, SLATE, analysis can bring to sports, I was captivated by this book. Soccernomics is an FINANCIAL TIMES, INDEPENDENT (UK), AND BLOOMBERG NEWS absolute must-read.” —BillY BEANE, General Manager of the Oakland A’s SOCCERNOMICS pioneers a new way of looking at soccer through meticulous, empirical analysis and incisive, witty commentary. The San Francisco Chronicle describes it as “the most intelligent book ever written about soccer.” This World Cup edition features new material, including a provocative examination of how soccer SOCCERNOMICS clubs might actually start making profi ts, why that’s undesirable, and how soccer’s never had it so good. WHY ENGLAND LOSES, WHY SPAIN, GERMANY, “read this book.” —New York Times AND BRAZIL WIN, AND WHY THE US, JAPAN, aUstralia– AND EVEN IRAQ–ARE DESTINED “gripping and essential.” —Slate “ Quite magnificent. A sort of Freakonomics TO BECOME THE kings of the world’s for soccer.” —JONATHAN WILSON, Guardian MOST POPULAR SPORT STEFAN SZYMANSKI STEFAN SIMON KUPER SIMON kupER is one of the world’s leading writers on soccer. The winner of the William Hill Prize for sports book of the year in Britain, Kuper writes a weekly column for the Financial Times. He lives in Paris, France. StEfaN SzyMaNSkI is the Stephen J. Galetti Collegiate Professor of Sport Management at the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology.
    [Show full text]
  • Herefore Redevelopment and Expansion There Is Not Possible
    WELCOME AERIAL VIEW OF THE MASTERPLAN INTRODUCTION Welcome and thank you for taking the time to attend this third public exhibition showing the proposals for a regeneration project based on the GUNNERSBURY PARK relocation of Brentford Football Club to a site in Lionel Road South. This third exhibition provides key information from the planning application and highlights the changes made as a result of the extensive public consultation exercise the Club has organised over the past 8 months As you probably know by now Brentford Football Club is planning to move from its existing site at Griffin Park to a new purpose built community stadium at a site in Lionel Road South. This exhibition is part of our commitment to keep you informed on what is happening and to continue to hear your views. At the end of your visit we would be grateful if you could take the time to complete the questionnaire to let us know your views. On the following boards, we are outlining the many benefits we think this THE SITE relocation will bring to the area as well as the Football Club. The Club has played at Griffin Park for over 100 years but, as everyone knows, the stadium is run down and not fit for purpose in the 21st Century. It is in a GRIFFIN PARK tight residential area and therefore redevelopment and expansion there is not possible. Also, these proposals will bring the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and the Club back together. The Brentford FC Community Sports Trust outgrew the old stadium many years ago and is based in an office building with no community facilities and unsuitable storage.
    [Show full text]
  • University of London Boat Club Boathouse, Chiswick
    Played in London a directory of historic sporting assets in London compiled for English Heritage by Played in Britain 2014 Played in London a directory of historic sporting assets in London This document has been compiled from research carried out as part of the Played in London project, funded by English Heritage from 2010-14 Contacts: Played in Britain Malavan Media Ltd PO Box 50730 NW6 1YU 020 7794 5509 [email protected] www.playedinbritain.co.uk Project author: Simon Inglis Project manager: Jackie Spreckley English Heritage 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST 0207 973 3000 www.english-heritage.org.uk Project Assurance Officer: Tim Cromack If you require an alternative accessible version of this document (for instance in audio, Braille or large print) please contact English Heritage’s Customer Services Department: telephone: 0870 333 1181 fax: 01793 414926 textphone: 0800 015 0516 e-mail: [email protected] © Malavan Media Ltd. January 2015 malavan media Contents Introduction .................................................................................4 � 1 Barking and Dagenham.................................................................7 � 2 Barnet ........................................................................................8 � 3 Bexley ......................................................................................10 � 4 Brent ......................................................................................11 � 5 Bromley ....................................................................................13
    [Show full text]
  • West London Film
    Harrow School Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s The Devil Rides Out The Battle of Britain Sixty Six Shaun of the Dead Derailed Stone Hammer House of Horror Independent fi lm makers Olympic Way, Wembley, Coronation Road, Park Royal, Central Middlesex Hospital, 1968 1969 November 2005 October 2003 Park Royal, October 2004 Warner Bros 2001 Starring: Christopher Lee, Starring: Michael Caine, Sixty Six is a coming of age of story One of the iconic scenes from Suspense thriller starring Clive Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Charles Gray, Sarah Lawson, Trevor Howard, Kenneth More, which is set against the backdrop the fi lm was fi lmed in Brent, on Owen and Jennifer Anniston Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Paul Eddington, Russell Waters Laurence Olivier, Michael of the 1966 World cup. To make Coronation Road in Park Royal. The was set in Chicago and fi lmed in Ian Hart, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffi ths, Fiona Redgrave, Ralph Richardson. the scenes as authentic as possible location was chosen as the roads are London. The ACAD Centre is used Location: The Grim’s Dyke Shaw, John Cleese, John Hurt, David Bradley Universal Pictures came to the real quiet and industrial making it perfect at weekends for fi lming and during Hotel has provided the Location: RAF Bentley Priory, location and fi lmed directly outside the for fi lming (particularly when Zombies the week is a functioning operating Location: The Fourth Form Room dates back to 1615 backdrop for three Hammer Stanmore, which was the nerve new world-class Wembley Stadium are involved!).
    [Show full text]
  • THE SCHEDULE Day One: Friday 7 June 2013 Venue: Hilton Deansgate
    SMALLSMALL MARKET MARKET ECONOMICS ECONOMICS!! THE SME13 WORKSHOP New for 2013! Our SME13 workshop brings together leading executives who are at the forefront of stadium success – both planned and existing – in smaller markets... THE SCHEDULE Day One: Friday 7 June 2013 Venue: Hilton Deansgate 08.30! Welcome Coffee & Networking in The *Marketplace! Sponsored by Thorn Lighting 09.00! Welcome by Ian Nuttall, Founder, TheStadiumBusiness / Xperiology Introducing your moderators for the day: • Prof. Terry Stevens, Principal, Stevens & Associates, UK • Guy Hedderwick, Commercial Director, Dunedin Venues/Forsyth Barr Stadium, New Zealand OPENING REMARKS 09.15! A Survey of Small Stadium Economics Smaller stadium enterprises are less dependent on ticketing income than their larger counterparts. In fact, non-match day and non-sport revenues are often more important to the balance sheet than the stadium’s sporting function. A recent survey of smaller stadium businesses reveals the diversity of operating and ownership structures – and the full range of alternative revenue streams – in this sector. • Dr. David Carson, School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, University of Ulster, UK CASE STUDY 1 09.45! Color Line Stadium, Norway Color Line Stadium was at the forefront of the adoption of synthetic turf pitches for smaller stadiums when it opened in April 2005 as the new home of Aalesund FK Football Club. Built at a cost of NOK160m (£18m), the 10,800-capacity venue was the first in Norway’s top league to incorporate a next generation synthetic pitch. Today, the stadium is also home to Norwegian Women's Premier League side Fortuna Ålesund as well as international fixtures.
    [Show full text]
  • The Regeneration Game Stadium-Led Regeneration
    Regeneration Committee The Regeneration Game Stadium-led regeneration March 2015 1 Regeneration Committee Members Gareth Bacon (Chairman) Conservative Navin Shah (Deputy Chair) Labour James Cleverly Conservative Len Duvall Labour Murad Qureshi Labour The Regeneration Committee The Regeneration Committee is tasked with monitoring and reviewing the Mayor’s regeneration functions and spending decisions. This includes oversight of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the Mayor’s powers through the London Plan, which are being used to promote particular areas for regeneration, and the Mayor’s regeneration funds. In 2014/15, the Committee’s work programme has included stadium-led regeneration, the LLDC, the Royal Docks, Smithfield Market, and regeneration funding. Further information about the Committee’s work is available on the GLA website: www.london.gov.uk Contact Jo Sloman email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7983 4942 Cover photo: View of Wembley Stadium taken on the Committee’s site visit on 8 July 2014 (London Assembly) 2 ©Greater London Authority March 2015 Contents Chairman’s foreword 4 Executive summary 5 1. What is stadium-led regeneration? 6 2. What difference can a stadium make? 9 3. When should the Mayor intervene in stadium-led regeneration? 22 Appendix 1 Stadium case studies 28 Appendix 2 Recommendations 35 Appendix 3 Survey Results 37 Appendix 4 How we conducted this investigation 46 Orders and translations 48 3 Chairman’s foreword The vivid memories of football fans are an especially poignant nostalgia. They fill countless pages in newspaper articles and on websites, they have become the basis for plays and books and films.
    [Show full text]
  • Voetbalreisgids Brentford FC
    Voetbalreisgids Brentford FC Ga voorbereid op reis naar Brentford FC en haal het maximale uit uw voetbalweekend! Informatie over VoetbalreizenXL, Brentford FC, de reis met praktische informatie en de stad Londen. Inhoudsopgave Over VoetbalreizenXL .............................................................................................................................. 2 De Club .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geschiedenis Brentford FC .................................................................................................................. 3 Stadioninfo .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Zitplaatsen ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Hoe bij het stadion te komen? ............................................................................................................ 6 Wat te doen voor de wedstrijd? ......................................................................................................... 6 De Reis ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Praktische informatie .........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 12.800 2017 Andorra
    Albanien (1) Elbasan KF Elbasani Stadiumi Ruzhdi Bizhuta (Elbasan Arena) 12.800 2017 Andorra (1) Andorra la Vella Nationaler Verband Estadi Nacional 3.300 2017 Argentinien (19) Avellaneda CA Independiente Estadio Libertadores de América 50.700 2017 Buenos Aires CA River Plate Monumental (Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti) 66.700 2012 CA Boca Juniors La Bombonera (Estadio Alberto Jacinto Armando) 57.400 2012 CA Vélez Sársfield Estadio José Amalfitani 49.800 2012 CA Huracán Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó 48.000 2017 CA All Boys Estadio Islas Malvinas 25.000 2017 Club Almagro Estadio 3 de Febrero 19.000 2017 CA Atlanta Estadio Don León Kolbovsky 15.000 2017 Club Ferro Carril Oeste Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverri 11.000 2017 CA Barracas Central Estadio Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia 4.400 2012 CA General Lamadrid Estadio Enrique Sexto 3.000 2017 Deportivo Riestra Estadio Guillermo Laza 3.000 2017 Gerli Club El Porvenir Estadio Gildo Francisco Ghersinich 15.000 2017 Ituzaingó CA Ituzaingó Estadio Carlos Alberto Sacaan 5.000 2017 Lanús CA Lanús Estadio Ciudad de Lanús 46.600 2012 La Plata Club Estudiantes de La Plata Estadio Ciudad de La Plata 53.000 2012 Merlo CS Deportivo Merlo Estadio José Manuel Moreno 10.000 2017 Quilmes CA Argentino de Quilmes Estadio Barranca Quilmeña 7.500 2017 Victoria CA Tigre Estadio José Dellagiovanna 26.300 2017 Belgien (39) Amel KFC Grün-Weiß Amel Stadion Zum Knopp 2.000 2017 Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Stade Constant Vanden Stock 26.400 2011 Antwerpen Royal Antwerp FC Bosuilstadion 16.649 2013 K. Berchem Sport Ludo Coeckstadion 13.600 2016 KSC Maccabi Voetbal Antwerp Stade Karel Du Dubloislaan 2.000 2013 Arendonk KFC Verbroedering Arendonk Gementelijk Stadion Kerkstraat 1.500 2018 Berlaar KFC Rita Berlaar Gem.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcript for Culture, Sport and Tourism Meeting on 1 April 2003
    Item 4 Appendix D Transcript for Culture, Sport and Tourism meeting on 1 April 2003. Chair: Welcome to this meeting of the London Assembly Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee. I’m Meg Hillier, the Chair of the Committee, and I’m joined by my colleagues Len Duvall and Mike Tuffrey. Danny Myers is the Committee Scrutiny Manager and Saba Master is the Committee Administrator. This is our second enquiry into the future of football stadia in London. Chair: There are nine witnesses here this evening; three from London’s football clubs, three from supporters trusts and supporters, and four from residents’ groups. Thank you very much for coming. Charles Koppel, please briefly outline why you saw the only future for Wimbledon FC to move to Milton Keynes? Charles Koppel: We did a considerable amount of work over a long period of time to find alternate locations for the club. A lot of that was done in partnership with Merton council, looking at sites within Merton. We also contacted approximately 35 other boroughs in and around South London and we appointed a leading planning and property firm to undertake a research report on our behalf. After all that came back with no options we realised we needed to look elsewhere. The Milton Keynes opportunity came along and we felt it appropriate to pursue it. Chair: You spent 12 years without a ground. How far a field were you prepared to go out of London? Charles Koppel: I’ve only been at the club for three years so I can’t speak for the previous nine, but it was a big issue for the club.
    [Show full text]