Work starting on dream home

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League FC United of Manchester have announced that building work on their new ground starts next month.

The news follows the signing of a lease between FCUM and Manchester City Council and the confirmation of all funding for the £5.5m project which includes sports and other community facilities as well a new stadium, pictured.

The Premier Division club say work will start on the site at the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston in early November and is expected to take around 40 weeks, with a projected completion date of August 2014.

FCUM's announcement is the culmination of seven years’ work for the supporter-owned club which began its quest to build a home ground in 2006. Club members have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash plus close to £2 million through a trail-blazing community share scheme.

The share scheme and community focus of the development also helped the Premier Division secure additional financial support from Manchester City Council, Sport England, The Football Foundation and The Manchester College.

FCUM's key partner in building the sporting hub for north Manchester is Moston Junior Football Club, one of Manchester’s leading junior football clubs and the former leaseholder of Ronald Johnson Playing Fields, which celebrates its 20th birthday in 2013.

Delighted FC United of Manchester General Manager Andy Walsh said the club is now looking forward to developing its vision of community driven football to boost sports participation and tackle social issues by providing facilities for local residents and community groups as well as entertaining fans.

He said: "This is a momentous day for FC United of Manchester and also for the local community who will benefit from this facility. Project funding has been driven by FC United members, who have raised over £2m and which has helped unlock the support of funders including Sport England, the Football Foundation, Manchester City Council and the Manchester College."

"The support of these partners has been pivotal. This is a brilliant achievement and one of which everyone connected with the club should be very proud. The development is not about just football - residents of north Manchester will gain access to excellent community facilities offering a choice of activities including a range of other sports.

He added: "We are excited about the commencement of work on the project and are celebrating today, but a bigger celebration will be when we complete the construction of the ground and the community facilities which will have such a positive effect on the local community and beyond."

Sport England and the Football Foundation have both congratulated FCUM ahead of work starting on the site of their new home.

Sport England's Property Director Charles Johnston said: "Manchester is a city with a rich sporting heritage and our investment into FC United of Manchester will ensure that the future of sport in the city remains bright. I am pleased to see the club’s plans have finally become a reality and through our continued investment in top class facilities we will not only improve people’s sport experience but also help attract new ones."

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added: "I am delighted that a Football Foundation grant of £500,000, alongside a £150,000 grant from our partner organisation the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), will enable FC United of Manchester to build fantastic new facilities for the club and for the community."