Worcester City look to play at Bromsgrove Sporting

[RalphC]

Blue Square Bet North club Worcester City are looking into a possible ground-share deal with Midland Combination side Bromsgrove Sporting for the 2013/14 season. City have to be out of St George's Lane in eighteen months so that Careys New Homes can demolish it for housing.

 

Although there is renewed hope of a new stadium being built at Nunnery Way, after Worcester City Council planners last week approved plans from St Modwen, it is highly unlikely to be ready within that timescale. City would need somewhere to play beyond the end of next season and the Victoria Ground, which Sporting took over in 2010 following the demise of Bromsgrove Rovers, is one of the options they are considering. Worcester officials are due to visit the Birmingham Road site on Saturday, January 28th, to assess whether it would be suitable to host their level of football. Conference North requires a 'B' grading and, although Sporting only play in Midland Combination Division One, the ground was cleared to grade 'C' standard when Rovers played in the Southern League Premier Division in 2008. Sporting, who attract average gates of 350, more than some of the teams in Worcester's division, have since spent a lot of money improving the facilities and it is hoped the ground would be good enough.

 

City vice-chairman Colin Layland said: "We need to be looking at places because, even if Nunnery Way goes through as planned, it wouldn't happen overnight so we could start 2013/14 needing somewhere to play. The Victoria Ground is a possibility and I think it would be the cheapest option. It was a Conference ground a few years back but it went into disrepair. Sporting

have spent a lot of money on it and I would like to see what has been done there."

 

Another option open to Worcester is Evesham United's new ground at Cheltenham Road which should be ready for the Robins to move in to by May following the completion of long-delayed road access. Evesham have been tenants at the Lane for five years and City have already scouted the £2million, thirteen-acre facility. Redditch United's Valley Stadium hosted Conference North action last season and could be added to the list of potential solutions. Conference Premier neighbours Kidderminster Harriers could also come into the equation, but it is thought renting at Aggborough would be too expensive.