Robson backs Wire's stadium dream

Former England captain Bryan Robson is spearheading Warrington Town's dreams of building a new multi-million pound stadium and community hub.

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Wire unveiled plans for the 6,000 seater new sports complex on the former Burtonwood air base at Omega on Thursday after enlisting the help of Robson's company, Bryan Robson Sports.

Warrington's officials believe their ambitious project close to Junction 8 of the M62 motorway, which also includes an indoor sport and entertainment venue for to 3-4000 people, will play a key role in fulfilling their dreams of reaching the Football League within ten years.

The Evo-Stik NPL First Division North club insist there is no reason why a town of 200,000 people like Warrington cannot emulate the success of others like Wigan, Bradford and Huddersfield with the right facilities to successfully sustain five figure crowds.

The proposed scheme also includes a gym, function suites, several full size all-weather 3G pitches, affordable housing within the stadium structure and a community hub housing a range of key amenities including a doctors surgery, chemist and library.

Robson and his sports and entertainment consultancy are set to work alongside Warrington’s Chief Executive Richard Sutton who has been driving the project. Robson is pictured signing a replica shirt for Sutton when the pair met at Warrington Town Hall for talks about bringing concerts, exhibitions and indoor sporting events to Warrington.

Robson is delighted to be involved and said afterwards: "The club have ambitious plans to develop a new sustainable stadium complex to help them progress up the Football League structure. I'm pleased that my company is assisting with such an exciting project which provides a great opportunity for football development in the town."

Warrington Town's Chief Executive revealed that England's former 'Captain Marvel' is now helping the club investigate and secure grants and investment partners to fulfil their dreams.

He said: "The council have been very supportive of the clubs ambitions and the challenge now is to ensure we present a robust business plan that fits in with the overall master plan for the Omega south site. Along with our consultants Robson Sports, we are making good progress in our efforts to find the right investment partners to bring these exciting plans to fruition.

"We have made no secret of the fact that our ambition is to deliver a Football League status club with the right facilities and a sustainable business model. Our intention is to make sure that we have the facilities and location to fully realise the town's potential for football development, and that can be fulfilled here as part of a scheme that brings wider facilities into the area.

"We have spent a considerable amount of time looking at various football and other sport stadia facilities and it is clear that the stadiums of the future need to have multiple commercial uses, coupled with a much wider appeal to the local population. Creating a destination is the key.”

"The plans we have prepared for the Omega site would see the club at the centre of a sport, leisure and entertainment facility providing a destination for the whole community. The indoor arena with potential for concerts and exhibitions means this development could become a flagship community facility and one which would not only support the needs of the existing residents but which would help 'sell' Warrington to a wider audience."

He added: "There is no reason why this town cannot emulate the likes of Wigan, Huddersfield Bradford and Leeds in sustaining successful Football and Rugby League teams drawing five figure crowds to both. We have drawn inspiration from our friends at Warrington Wolves who have built up a fantastic sporting brand on the back of a great new stadium.

"Warrington is a town of over 200,000 people and we are confident that with the right facilities and infrastructure, which we will put in place over the next few years, we can give the town another sporting brand to be proud of."