Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand

STAGECOACH ADAM STANSFIELD STAND OPENING CEREMONY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 At Stagecoach, we are all about people, from the people that we This is a fitting tribute to Adam who employ, to the people that we carry. was a real local hero and sporting role A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN We believe in community. This role in model. He gave everyone in Exeter so our community is very important to us much pleasure throughout his playing and one of the prime reasons we have career and was always willing to give his time to the community - a true JULIAN TAGG supported Exeter City Football Club for more than 12 years. We believe embodiment of our own ‘Close to You’ this is a club which puts its supporters philosophy. and the city at the heart of everything Thank you for being here today to of the land behind the Thatchers Roy Kinnear, Chief Commercial Officer Flybe it does, a club with which we share be part of this historic event for our Big Bank. We must pass on our many of our core values. We have football club. sincere thanks to Councillor Pete watched the development take shape Edwards, Leader of the Council; I truly believe that this is a special chief executive Karime Hassan, over the months and along with you club, we’re special because we’re and city council surveyor Mike all feel immense pride in this fantastic owned by our fans, but we’re also Everyone at the council is Carson for this, and for their new stadium. We were also very special because we are surrounded ongoing support of our club. thrilled to be part of today. The path pleased to recognise one of Exeter’s by people who care. So, whether wasn’t always smooth, as often is the that is our fantastic city council The planning process itself truly great players and share the case, but you should be really proud representatives, our boards, our was a difficult one, with two naming rights of the stand, to make sponsors, our staff, our volunteers legal challenges to the student of the work of the club and what you it the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield or our fans – these are people who accommodation, a part of the have achieved. Stand. make sure things get done for the project which was integral good of our club. to its success. Here we must Cllr Phil Bialyk, Portfolio holder for Health and acknowledge the contribution of Bob Dennison, Managing Director Stagecoach Wellbeing, Communities and Sport Exeter City There are a lot of challenges around Andrew Rothwell from Ashfords South West Council running a football club which, over for his support through the the last century, has inherited various legal and planning process. We buildings and unusual pieces of dealt with one legal challenge, architecture. It was many years ago eventually saw full planning that the idea for a new stand was first permission granted in May suggested, when it was clear to all 2016 and were then faced Heritage Today as we celebrate the After a four-year partnership with the that the much-loved, yet dilapidated with a second legal challenge after Lottery Fund and the hard work of the opening of The Stagecoach Adam original structure, which dated back this. Work finally began on the Supporters’ Trust history group and club it is very satisfying to see the new to 1926, was well past its sell by date. Stansfield Stand, the Club Board wish redevelopment a year later. the Grecian Archive, in partnership Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand to thank every single person who has with the University of Exeter. completed and looking so good. I hope Ideas and discussions rumbled over We must express our gratitude to helped us reach this milestone in the the years and various options were club board member David Lee who it will serve Exeter City well, and help We are very fortunate to have many history of St James Park. explored, but it was in 2014, when guided us through the extremely them to go from strength to strength we were approached by Andrew complex legal process and has extremely loyal sponsors, none more Davis from Yelverton Property relentlessly kept this project moving so than Stagecoach, who have not both on and off the pitch. Club board Developments with an innovative forward. Our general manager only remained strongly committed proposal, that things became a Justin Quick has worked closely with to our club over this development Andrew Davis Director, Yelverton Properties little more real and we realised architects Kensington Taylor, who period but have also shared the this development was actually a have been long-term supporters of naming rights of the stand which possibility and no longer a pipe our club, contractor GLE and project has allowed us to recognise and dream. It has to be said that it is managers Campus to deliver the support our fanbase by naming it the down to Andrew’s sheer tenacity and project on time. He has dealt with Stagecoach Adam Stansfield stand. dedication to the project that we have all the problems of building two new the development you see here today. stands and all associated facilities in Take a look around today, at our a working stadium with good humour improved away end, new changing And it certainly wouldn’t have been and unlimited patience. possible without Exeter City Council. rooms, associated facilities and our The stand, along with the ground it is We’re also proud to be able to show fantastic new Stagecoach Adam built on, is owned by the city council. where we’ve come from and we can Stansfield Stand and be proud of We owe them a huge debt of gratitude do this thanks to our new heritage what we have achieved – a stadium for financing this development collection, which has been made to reflect the values of our club, our through the proceedings of the sale possible through a grant from the city and our community. 2 www.exetercityfc.co.ukBexetercityfc AOfficialECFC VOfficialECFC www.exetercityfc.co.ukBexetercityfc AOfficialECFC VOfficialECFC 3 STAND TIMELINE MONDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, history. OCTOBER 23, OCTOBER 30, NOVEMBER We’re also proud to be able to show 2017 where we’ve come from and we can 2017 30, 2017 do this thanks to our new heritage Work officially began on the Old displays, which have been made Grandstand at St James Park, The stand, which dates back to The demolition of the Old possible through a grant from the including the removal of the 1926, then has its roof panels Grandstand was largely Heritage Lottery Fund and the hard buildings adjacent to the stand, removed as work began on complete by this time with the work of the Supporters' Trust history the old floodlight poles, and the the structure itself. Exeter steelwork dismantled. The group and the Grecian Archive, in netting to the right of the stand. City chairman, Julian Tagg, next phase was to remove all Rising from the disaster came the partnership with the University of The internals were also ripped described it as an “historic of the arisings from the site second grandstand at St James Exeter. out to allow for demolition moment for in order to make space for the HISTORY Park, and if the erection of the first work to take place. piling operation. The forward represented the club’s emergent In addition, the ECFC Hall of Fame programme was delayed professionalism, then this building has found a home beneath the stand, largely because the foundations embodied the spirit of the local with its namesake Adam Stansfield of the Old Grandstand were OF THE community as funds were raised by being joined by fellow City legends, not as had been indicated. subscription for its construction. Sid Thomas, Dick Pym, Cliff Bastin, There was much less concrete Reg Clarke, Alan Banks, Peter Hatch, than anticipated which meant This stand was designed not only to Jimmy Giles, Graham Rees, Dermot STAND include ‘modern’ changing facilities, that a significant quantity of Curtis, Tony Kellow, and Arnold unsuitable soil and clay had but also offices, meeting rooms, and Mitchell. ECFC MUSEUM hospitality facilities. For many years to be removed from site. This meant that additional hard it was home to players, staff and fans As with its predecessors, the Today we celebrate the official material was required to alike, and its longevity at the park led development of this stand represents unveiling of the Stagecoach Adam the club and for the thousands supplement the concrete that to it being known affectionately as the both professionalism and community Stansfield Stand, which is now the of fans who have treasured was crushed on site to provide ‘Old Grandstand’. spirit, and within this fan-focused third grandstand to have been built memories of watching their a solid platform for the piling endeavour we are proud to have been on this part of St James Park. team from this stand.” rig. For 90 years the Old Grandstand was able to acknowledge the rich history home to generations of City fans, and and heritage of the club with our The first of these stands was unveiled while there are too many memorable 110 years ago, having been built fellow Grecians, as we move forward moments to mention here, the into a new and exciting era. to accompany the club’s newfound development of the Stagecoach professional status in 1908. This Adam Stansfield Stand has allowed Will Barrett and Gabriella Giannachi FRIDAY, JANUARY FRIDAY, stand, with its rounded roof, provided us to acknowledge some of the key shelter and comfort for the club’s moments, and people, in the club’s 5, 2018 FEBRUARY 2, wealthier fans, while changing rooms were incorporated into the design After Christmas the redevelopment 2018 to help City to attract better quality work took a further step forward players.

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