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7th tier club’s board of directors inform supporters of issues affecting them

Stourbridge have issued a statement, with the 7th tier club’s board of directors taking to inform supporters of issues affecting them.

The club, who play in the Southern League Premier Division Central, announce that the War Memorial Ground will undergo significant changes after the final home game on April 21st due to structural issues with the surrounding banks, as identified by engineers.

The stands and floodlights, deemed too close to the deteriorating banks, will be dismantled post-season.

In collaboration with Stourbridge Cricket Club, Dudley Council, and FA Club consultants, the club is exploring costly solutions and potential funding sources, including fan and community support.

While acknowledging the upcoming challenges and time required, the club remains hopeful for a positive outcome with collective effort and requests patience and continued support from season ticket holders, supporters, and members as they work towards resolving these issues in the coming weeks and months.

STATEMENT:

The board of directors feel it is the appropriate time to inform our supporters and the wider community of issues affecting the football club.

Our final home game versus Bromsgrove on the 21st April will be the last time you will see The War Memorial Ground in its present guise.

We have been working closely with structural engineers regarding the deterioration of the banks that surround the War Memorial and that both ourselves and Stourbridge Cricket Club occupy.

It has been made abundantly clear that a number of our Stands and floodlights are too close to the edge of the banks and should be taken down once the last game of the season is played.

Both the Cricket and Football Club, Dudley Council and the FA Club consultants are working closely to identify potential solutions.

There is no doubt that whatever option is progressed, it is going to be extremely costly and we are considering all possible funding streams, including our fan base and the community.

We will detail this further over the coming weeks but this will be a stressful period for the football club and will take some time to deliver.

We are however optimistic that a solution can be achieved if everyone is prepared to work together. We would ask that all our Season ticket holders, supporters and members remain patient with us and use the last few weeks of the season to support us as they have always done.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to bringing you positive developments over the coming weeks and months.

Twitter users reacted as the 7th tier club’s board of directors inform supporters of issues affecting them…

@YouYeltz: Usual mockery aside for a moment, this is grim reading and it goes without saying that everyone hopes the club comes through this. Iโ€™m not overly close to the details but canโ€™t see how the club can be at fault here – building work has been allowed right under the main stands. ๐Ÿ‘Ž

@IanDunn8: i’m not going to expand on the statement other to then say a difficult road ahead and I urge ALL supporters to attend games home or away as much as you can next season, whether the football is crap or not. Chairman & directors are doing all that can be done – and more.

@_Nev20x: If it needs to get worse before it gets better, so be it.

@TomTonks: Fingers crossed there is a positive solution, I know AP will be doing everything possible. โค๏ธ๐Ÿค

@pneandbrig: Sorry to hear this, thought it was a very quirky and unique ground when I visited last season – albeit a 5-1 defeat for Brig – one for the purists but a proper non-league ground

@ChrisRabone: Hope all gets sorted with this, massive local club and with a top fan base. Sure Andy is going above and beyond to sort ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿป

@presley_dave: Dudley Council had blood on their hands with Dudley Town previously, who now have to play in Willenhall, they need to offer support where itnis needed to ensure Stour remain at the very least in the town long term if this can’t be at the WMG.

@Wcrook9: @DudleyTownFC have only been homeless since 1984 so you shouldnโ€™t have too long to wait @StourbridgeFC from the council to get sorted ! ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

@Frank_gl82: Always going to happen sooner or later just need to back the club all the way

@DavidBillingha1: Good luck Stour

@matt1878: Rivalries aside, this is a real shame. The club/ground means a lot to a lot of people. Hopefully they get it sorted. Thereโ€™s going to be some tough times ahead though thatโ€™s for sure.

@nonleaguevol: Hopefully a resolution can be found @StourbridgeFC โค๏ธ

@fc_travel_: Very sad to see. Great old school ground on its last legs ๐ŸŸ๏ธ

Jonathan Lowe: As a Yeltz fan i obviously dislike Stour just as you guys dislike us. But! As a football fan this is terrible to read. Without the Yeltz and the Glass boys there is no Number 9 and there is no rivalry. So that said, I really hope you guys get this sorted. The Yeltz need you guys to thrive just as you need us to thrive to maintain that bitter rivalry for years to come. #number9

Jeremy Pewton: Feel sorry for Andy P and the Board who I believe have worked extremely hard in finding various solutions to this. As usual DMBC has offered nothing in the way of support and let it drift to this. Yet another sad day for town and community โ˜น๏ธ๐Ÿคฌ๐Ÿคฌ These so called councillors reap it in with the publicity when the team and town hit the national headlines but give nothing back to the club or community in a time of need!

Lee Shilvock: I know many see this in a negative light but this could be the push the club needs to progress as a 3 sided ground doesn’t work further up you go. In the meantime maybe ground share with lye town?

Carl Smith: Be great to see football continue at the War Memorial Ground. Keep up the good work Andy Pountney and the team. Stourbridge FC Official is a very special club and I am confident will only go from strength to strength in the future

Spence Billingham: There is another team from another sport looking for a home. Maybe parties could get together and see what could be done. Multi sport ground with multi sports support has a better chance of backing, but hope something can be sorted.

Ian Moulsdale: Saw this coming ages ago unfortunately, with a lease running out, the council have to spend big money in repairs for the football club to stay on there, whereas very little money for the cricket club to stay on there, its only been going one way.

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