Hereford FC given 40-year lease on ground

Herefordshire Council's decision notice said the length of the new lease confirmed its commitment to retaining football in the city

A council will give Hereford FC a further 40-year lease on its Edgar Street ground, the authority has confirmed.

Herefordshire Council's decision notice, dated 27 October, said the club asked for a longer lease than its current five-year model to help "with grant funding submissions for improvements", in particular from the Football Foundation.

The lease starting in August 2030 will not include the area of the now demolished Blackfriars stand at the south end, but will include additional land to the north.

Hereford United Supporters' Trust chairman Richard Tomkins welcomed any future investment in the ground enabled by the new lease.

Welcoming the formal announcement, club chairman Chris Ammonds confirmed this concludes a deal Hereford FC and the council had marked at a home game with Boston United in April last year.

The authority's decision notice stated the length of the new lease confirmed its commitment to "retaining football in the city and enables long-term investment".

Mr Tomkins said the idea of moving the club to the south of the city had been mooted by a then director, when it dropped out of the Football League in 1997.

"But this never had any support from the fans," he stated.

The fan trust chairman also said that following the demolition of the Blackfriars stand, "the Merton Meadow end also needs an upgrade".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.