The Way Forward?

[Guest]

First of all, I'd like to say "Hello" to everyone as this is my first post here!

 

Now to business.

 

It strikes me that the solution to our problem may indeed, as some have already suggested, lie within the confines of Upton Court Park.

 

It strikes me that as we already have the town's cricket and rugby teams based there, it would make an ideal home for the rebels.

 

What I would envisage, is a partnership with Slough Rugby Club, to create a joint stadium and club house on their existing site with the addition of some of the adjoining land. I realise that this would not be simple as it would involve not only ourselves and the rugby club, but also both Windsor and Slough Councils and the local residents (of which I am one).

 

I appreciate that there would also be green belt issues to be overcome.

 

I know this sounds like an impossible day dream but if people could come together and really get behind this then who knows?

 

Surely, focusing all of Slough's major sports together in one premier location has got to be good news for the whole town.

 

I know taking over part of the green belt at Upton would be unpopular with some but in truth it would be involving only land that is already played on plus some of the field nearest the M4. There is already an access road from Upton Court Road to the Rugby Club, although this may need some improvement.

 

Finally, don't forget, there is also a major new housing development on the way, adjacent to the park. This is certainly against the wishes of the park's neighbours (the council are forcing it through anyway, suprise suprise) but it does show that a stadium wouldn't be completely out of place in the park.

 

Ok, that's me done - you can all let rip at me now...!!!

[Guest]

No its a good answer....and yes the rugby and football club would be a good answer ...to play on a communal stadium ...but the pitch could be the problem...maybe 2 pitches !!! would be the answer....

 

chris s

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Its a huge area, and its got a good location in central slough, I think its one of the best locations for us.

[charlie]

got my vote

[Ted]

One or two posters on ThisisSlough seem convinced that the rugby club has serious problems and may struggle to keep going--no idea if there's any truth in that.

 

One problem would be the ground being in 2 separate planning authorities---Wexham Park all over again, but at least its W and M, not the rabid South Bucks.

 

A variation of whats been proposed might just be feasible. One of the proposals for the Castleview development is that the builders might build a new school---this would leave the current Castleview Schoolsite free to develope---might it be big enough fora Stadium? It would be council owned land, so the council, could if it wished, make it available to the club. Ot Stokes could flog it for housing and grab the extra cash. I wonder which he would prefer to do

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

....-Wexham Park all over again, but at least its W and M, not the rabid South Bucks.

It would be council owned land, so the council, could if it wished, make it available to the club. Ot Stokes could flog it for housing and grab the extra cash. I wonder which he would prefer to do

Well Councillor Stokes said he was totally against making false statements and he did say he would consider any proposals, but hey he's a politician and the word "consider" was carefully chosen - it doesn't mean approve, so he can "consider" reasonable proposals as long as he is in office......... Don't hold your breath.....

[Barry Scott]

yes, he can consider them and reject them

[Tuffley Rebel]

I've been involved with the rugby club for many years and know a little bit about them.

 

The club is in decline in terms of playing numbers and results but financially they don not have any serious problems and are currently increasing their commercial income. The RFU have also given them a grant recently to improve facilities and encourage junior rugby.

A joint stadium would be difficult because the club don't own the land they play on, it is leased from SBC I think.

The land they play would also be expensive to build a stadium on because underneath the soil is a clay base which cause subsidence. If you look a t the clubhouse you can clearly see it sinking.

If STFC did go into a joint venture space would be difficult. The rugby club currently has four pitches and regularly uses all of them. They also have a thriving social scene from which all revenue is theirs, would they want to start sharing this with another tennant.

Finally, I'm posting this as a personal opinion and have no official role within ther club. For all we know the rugby club might be very much interested in a joint venture. Has anyone aprroached them, or plan to find out there thoughts.

[Guest]

Obviously it would seem that there are a multitude of obstacles and issues to be overcome if my idea was to have any chance of becoming reality.

 

I wonder if anyone would be prepared to approach any of the organisations involved to gauge their feelings?

 

Is it worth writing to one of the local papers even, to try and get some public feedback?

 

I know this seems like getting a bit a ahead of myself but I just feel, like everyone else around here does, that someone has to do something...

[Martin]

Ok without wishing to be a wet blanket.....I am absolutely in agreement that something has to be done but we don't really want to get ahead of ourselves.

 

Say we get the Rugby club, the public and even the council onside (cloud cuckoo land) is there not just one minor thing missing before we build the ground of our dreams? Money.

 

Do we know what the current situation is with Mr. Deaner?

[charlie]

Last i heard he was still complaining about the fact that the council owed him money and he wasn't putting any more forward until they had reimbursed him. the council naturally deny any knowledge of this

[Martin]

And he does not seem to have been attending recent matches........

[Matt]

Isn't that because he's concentrating more on the project development side of things?

[Guest]

We must remember that without Deaner, we would probably not have a club at all

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Sorry the above was me (Always forget to log on when on school computers)

[Martin]

Sorry, I did not mean to come across as having a go at Deaner. As far as I am aware he still owns the club and this new board of directors has not been formed. Therefore he has to be the driving force behind any move at this stage after all we would be relying on his money and any he can attract from backers.

 

Matt is right, he said he was going to look for a new site and investment. Until he reports back to the fans we are not really certain where we are.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

I still think its shocking that living on the estates with so many multi national companies worth billions of pounds we cant find someone willing to help us out....

[charlie]

too right... take masterfoods and their clock shambles... disgusting

[brighton_rebel]

Years ago we had a pop at Mars for not supporting Slough apart from one poxy advertising board - however, they did see fit to sponsor the kit of one of the top Italian sides. We wrote letters to complain but to no effect, then tried to start a boycott mars bars campaign at the ground through our fanzine - this didn't exactly bring them to their knees.

Then the Animal Liberation Front said they'd poisoned a couple of mars bars and the company lost millions. The ALF said they did it cos mars tested their sweets on monkeys - we reckoned they did it cos Mars wouldn't support their local football team.

 

 

brighton rebel

[Ian]

Despite their association with Slough, Mars are a multi national company. They do provide a small amount of sponsorship although it is very small in comparison to what we need.

 

I think we need to target Slough Estates. The name of the town is linked with theirs and ours and they are, I believe, the wealthiest property company in the whole of Europe.