Football club given green light to return home

Newbury FC played a match at Faraday Road in November, but were then told they could only use the site to train

A football club will return to its home grounds this weekend after its changing rooms passed an inspection by the Football Association.

Newbury FC returned to West Berkshire Council owned Faraday Road in November, six years after being evicted - but the council was then told the team could only train there because the changing rooms were too small.

On Thursday, the council announced it had adjusted the layout and passed the inspection.

"I am delighted that Newbury will play their first league match for several years at Faraday Road this weekend," said Nigel Foot, the council's portfolio holder for sport.

"Within a very short time we have re-purposed some of the facilities to enable this to happen and I am very grateful to all involved at achieving this."

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

The club was evicted from Faraday Road in 2018 when the then Conservative run council said it wanted to use the site to redevelop the London Road Industrial Estate.

The site fell into disrepair and most of it was destroyed in an arson attack three years later.

The Liberal Democrats pledged to bring Newbury FC back to Faraday Road when they took control of the authority in 2023.

On 9 November, the team played their first match there, but on 22 November the Football League informed the council the changing rooms needed to be larger in order for Newbury FC to play there in the league.

Mr Foot blamed the issue on a "breakdown in communication".