New fanzone, VIP bar and mini pitch coming to Stalybridge Celtic ground

Stalybridge Celtic can now install a new fan zone area after getting approval from the council.

Proposals for Bower Fold stadium will see a new fan zone containing two bars, a café and a play area installed just behind the turnstiles on the northeast entrance.

The design is described by the football club as a ‘simple and small structure’ crafted from recycled shipping containers – finished in team colours.

The club, currently in the eighth tier of English football, hope that this can help boost numbers on game days and create more revenue for the club through hospitality functions.

This new development would go on empty land to the north east of the football pitch and spectator stands. The land in question has been vacant following the demolition of a former social club.

One of the bars would act as a ‘VIP area’ with the other working as a general bar for punters in addition to a cafe. The new multi-use play area will be created as a new AstroTurf/picnic space, approximately 180m2 in area, according to planning documents.

The club did have plans to move to a new stadium nearer to the town centre back in 2017, but that never materialised. The Northern Premier League Division One West side have played at the historic Bower Fold ground on Mottram Road since the early 1900s.

A design and access statement read: “The stadium shows plenty of potential for redevelopment and intensification for its business use. The current size of the stadium and condition is determined mainly by the position of the team within the football leagues and the support the ground needs to give for the average attendance figures of fans.

“Our brief was to provide a fan zone to retain fans within the site and intensify the business use of the site for leisure and hospitality. Games are currently under attended the club would like to improve attendance and improve its business plan and their hope therefore hopefully plan for the legacy moving forwards of the team and its success.

“Clubs such as this can be an absolutely crucial and pivotal focus to a local community.

“Aside from the football games and attendance the club also owns a restaurant block within the main buildings. This is in need of refurbishment and the opportunity should be taken to improve the overall fan experience with regards to this space.”