Soccer club may lose its stand

But the town's football club '“ Seaford Town FC '“ wants it to stay.

Officials say removing it without plans to replace it would create problems for the club with the Football Association and Sussex County League.

The club currently sits mid table in division two.

The ground is owned by Seaford Town Council and its community services committee was due to discuss the stand's future last night (Thursday).

Members were being asked to approve spending 5,000 to demolish the stand.

They also had to decide whether the money needed should be taken from the committee's open spaces budget.

Soccer club vice-chairman, Reece Blackman, said: 'We are not too keen for it to come down because the club will be left without a stand and if they did take it down during the footballing season it could cause us problems with the FA and Sussex League.'

The FA states clubs from division two upwards must have a covered area for spectators.

Mr Blackman said the club's new lights were switched on for the first time on Tuesday night during a game against Lancing.

The lights cost just under 50,000 and he said losing the stand now would be a blow.

He said the club understood the problems with the current stand and that it was time for a new one.

The stand has been deteriorating for a number of years and had been declared unsafe after a risk assessment by Lewes District Council.

It was going to be fenced off prior to demolition but this does not deter people getting in.

In June last year the Express ran a front page article about the stand after the the town's police sergeant at the time, David Kemp, said it was being mis-used by youngsters who were getting in it to drink alcohol, take drugs and have sex.

PC Martin Theelke told the Express this week: 'In the off-season during summer months that stand has been a problem for us because of the number of youths who gather and cause problems for local residents.

'It is a bit of a blow for the football club but I hope in time they can sort out a replacement with the town council.

'I would like to think if a new stand is built it could be secured in the summer months.'

Mr Blackman added: 'We would like some support for a new stand from the town council. It has helped out and given funding to the rugby club, the golf club and the youth centre at The Salts.

'We have just under 300 kids in our club and it would seem right to put some money towards the football club. It would be nice for them to help.'

Mr Blackman said he had spoken to the leader of the town council, Cllr Jon Freeman, who offered to help to secure funds for the project.

See next week's Express for the town council's decision.