Football club set to return to 'spiritual home'

Cllr Nigel Foot (far left) and council leader Jeff Brooks (second right) met representatives from Newbury Community Football Group, including Lee McDougall (centre)

A sports club is set to return to its "spiritual home" for the first time since 2018.

Faraday Road in Newbury, which is owned by West Berkshire Council, was earmarked for redevelopment by the authority’s previous Conservative administration.

But the Liberal Democrats, who have controlled the council since May 2023, pledged to use the site for football once again.

Newbury FC’s vice-chairman, Ifor Sheldon, said: “Faraday Road is our spiritual home, and we can’t wait to get back playing there with this being our home ground.”

The Faraday Road site was badly damaged in a suspected arson attack in 2021

An under-8s match was played in November, the first time the site had been used for a game after the football club and youth groups were evicted, ahead of potential redevelopment work, in 2018.

The buildings were then destroyed in a suspected arson attack in 2021.

Portable changing facilities and a clubhouse will be used where the former clubhouse stood.

New dugouts and floodlights have been installed to allow evening training sessions and a portable stand will be added shortly.

Members of the NCFG said they are excited to get Newbury FC back playing at Faraday Road

The council said the facilities were "designed with the future in mind" and that it had worked with the Newbury Community Football Group (NCFG).

Nigel Foot, the council's executive member for culture, sport, leisure and countryside, said: “I’m really excited about getting senior football back to being played on Faraday Road football ground.

“This is just the start of our shared vision with NCFG to elevate Faraday Road back to the important position we believe it deserves within our community.”

Lee McDougall, from NCFG, said: “We have been campaigning for this since the ground closed in 2018 and we are working closely with West Berkshire Council to look to the next phase of development including the feasibility review of a 3G pitch.”