Surrey F.A. to move to Dorking

[Big J R]

Not at all.

 

We now live in a 'Politically Correct'  age, or so we are told.  For better or for worse depending on your point of view.

 

If ANY person in Government, either national or local implied that my head should be knocked against someone elses, I would have no option but to lodge an official complaint.

 

It smacks of incitement to commit an assault.

 

Don't you just love this 'Politically Correct'  age ?

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

The plans are on the MVDC site. Go to planning and running list 8/5 and scroll through.

 

Sorry I can't see a link to post but they show how it will all look, down to the chairs at the bar.  (let's get our priorities right!)

 

 

The stand will go, but will be replaced by a similar one, without a paint and petrol store underneasth I hope.

 

The whole place will be bulldozed, and good riddance to it, despite me spending a lot of my time there over the last 50 years the place is a dangerous rat ridden (of many types) disgraceful slum.

 

 

It will be replaced by a 4 million pound project that Dorking can be proud of, and will benefit the whole community, especially the footballing fraternity.

 

Well done to the council, and if anyone can see a negative in this , you're a more miserable cynical git than me. 

Well that's more than enough from me, and congrats JR, you can have my miserable cinical git's chair in the corner!

[E&E Rich]

Our council promised us support in attempting to get a new ground back in 1993......

 

To be fair they did grant planning permission on a site in 2001 subject to us buying it, probably in the knowledge that the site was going to be bought by the David Lloyd Centre who offered four times what we did for it.

 

Since then the council have shown no interest whatsoever. I really hope that the latest council elections will have thrown up some football fans. 

 

My advice to DFCW is to continue knocking at the door to MVDC but I cannot see how they could or would commit to another ground in the area after spending so much on Meadowbank.

 

It looks like DFC have come out of this much the better off of the two teams, but I suppose time will tell..

[Big J R]

Well that's more than enough from me, and congrats JR, you can have my miserable cinical git's chair in the corner!

 

 

?

 

I think you and I should maybe go on TV's 'Grumpy Old Men', Jeff !!

[Smudge]

Was anything discussed at the MVDC Meeting regarding what granting a 25 year lease would cost Dorking FC.

What would they get as regards facilities,would they run the Bar,or would this be done by outside Contractors.Nice to see 1000's of Children/Youths using the facility,would they get a discount on the hourly rate,because many presently use Free facilities ie Parks to train on saturday mornings,which are free at source.What input will Surrey FA have as regards the running of the facility,Security,Hiring,Cleaning,Maintenance?.Will Dorking F.C.aim to run more than the 2 sides that they run under their banner,as currently they do not run any U6-U17 sides.

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

No details on lease, its still under negotiation Smudge.

 

Surrey FA will run the football facility, so if a side wants to hire a training slot they will go to Surrey FA, and Surrey FA will look after the facility.

Dorking will run a first team and u18s, and a girls/ladies section providing football through the age groups to first team.

Dorking FC won't run a youth set up for boys. There are lots of good clubs around covering that, and Dorking can offer u18 and first team football to all of those groups as their players progress.

 

I don't know any details about the clubhouse, sorry. I assume that's all part of the negotiation.

[Smudge]

Cheers Jeff for the reply,so Dorking FC will have to rely on gate money to fund themselves?

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

As I say I dont know about the clubhouse. Apart from that potential income and gate money we have sponsors, advertisers, and other income streams available to most clubs.

 

I know the guys running the club now are shrewd, and can count, so I am happy to trust them!

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

And now the whole deal goes back to the Scrutiny Committee again.

 

Clock is ticking chaps.

[Big J R]

A long and unfortunate saga which I heard about over the weekend from two seperate sources.

 

Dorking Advertiser posted this yesterday, so again, it's now in the public doman

 

http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/Councillors-examination-Meadowbank-stadium-lease/story-26751334-detail/story.html

 

This may have partly been bought about by the sudden death of Councillor Mick Longhurst, (former Vice President of DFC),  and the resignation of the UKIP councillor in the same Holmwood ward.

 

The recent election gave the LibDems two more seats on the Council.

 

The problem, as Jeff said above, is that the clock is ticking.

 

If the redevelopment gets stalled so there is no ground fit for play the season after next, ALL grant money may well be lost.

 

Watch this space !!

[Smudge]

Why are Dorking FC so anti Dorking Wanderers as regards a Groundshare.Yet so biased to Youth Football,could it be the Brockham Badgers connection within their Committee.The Dorking twitter feed gives great coverage to Brockham Badgers,but little about Dorking FC's plans for season 15/16,when is the closing date for the £500,000 grant?

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

 I only know what Ive read lately, and these are my opinions

 

We could ask why Dorking Wanderers are anti groundshare.

 

I've not seen anything yet to suggest they are willing to take on a 25 year lease, but Dorking FC are.

 

So DFC has to ensure that they can honour the lease, unlike before.

 

Ground built in 50s, DFC folds in seventies and reinvents itself, to be rescued nearly twenty years later just to fail again in this decade.

 

The new custodians aren't going to allow another failure on their watch, so need to know that the lease is viable from year one to year 25, to the best of their ability.

 

They also , along with the council need to deliver on its commitments to a youth, ladies and community facility.

 

 

 

The grant needs to be used within a year of award, I dont know the dates sorry.

 

DFC are committed to youth and ladies football as much as the first team. Not a bad thing, and maybe because many of them have seen what happens at youth level through any Brockham Badger connections and beyond.

[Smudge]

Why should Dorking Wanderers take on a 25yr lease,the youth sides using the facility will not be asked to take on a lease,just pay the fees set by whoever.Why should Dorking Wanderers not be allowed to do the same?

[Big J R]

I understand that there was a three-way meeting between the leader of MVDC, and the Chairmen of both the senior clubs involved in this discussion.

 

Nothing has been mentioned on here or in the local press about how that went.  I have heard it wasn't particularly fruitful.

 

Anyone got any more information on it, or has the mushroom season started ? 

Edited June 24, 2015 by Big J R

[Go on have a giggle]

Broke my own promise of not posting again . But when I'm back in blighty I can't resist a catch up. Wait for inappropriate abuse from regular poster who appears to be coming under more and more criticism . Justifiable as well from what I read but my ilk are not welcome here ! But other than Mr Spurs nobody has a clue about this situation do they ? All have an opinion and know somebody that knows nudge nudge wink wink but in reality not got a clue. What is there to actually find out here.

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

Jr if you search Twitter Howard Jones you will find the council leaders comments. thats the councillor not the 80s pop star. No idea what he is saying though.

Smudge. If the ryman let a club just book a few Saturday's at a council facility then great. They can book away. Doesn't work that way though does it?

[Big J R]

I'm afraid I haven't really got my head completely around 'Twitter'.

 

It just seems to go round and round in circles.

 

Maybe I'll search out Howard Jones this evening.

 

JUST A MINUTE !  'Twitter' is used by most celebs and pop-stars, so maybe it IS that Howard Jones !!

[Big J R]

The Scrutiny Committee of M.V.D.C., will sit on 7th. July to discuss Meadowbank FURTHER.

 

Item 4 on the agenda rewaqds:-

 

CALL IN: REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MEADOWBANK FOOTBALL GROUND , DORKING

 

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the call-in item and in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, make one of the following three decisions:-

 

a. Resolve that the call-in matter requires no further scrutiny and can be implemented; or

 

b. Make a recommendation on an alternative decision for consideration by the Executive; or

 

c. Resolve that the matter needs further scrutiny and that the issue should be brought back to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee with further information.

 

Following this further scrutiny the Committee will make a decision in accordance with either (a) or ( above.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Big J R

[Smudge]

Typical Council love meeting.

[Chris Clapham]

Dorking Twitter tonight confirms go ahead for redevelopment.