Fans sign petition to help a 9th tier club’s new £1.5m shipping container stadium plans, with proposed designs quite the unique one.
Newark & Sherwood United FC, who play in the United Counties League Premier Division North, has garnered significant community support for its innovative £1.5 million shipping container stadium project.
Fans and local residents have been signing a petition to back the “Yorke Park” initiative, which aims to bring a sustainable, community-focused stadium to Newark, Nottinghamshire.
The proposed 500-seat facility, designed to be constructed from 66 repurposed shipping containers, would feature off-grid energy solutions like solar power and rainwater harvesting, reflecting the club’s eco-conscious ethos.
The petition, launched to demonstrate public support to the Newark and Sherwood District Council, highlights the project’s potential benefits: a community stadium for football, boxing, music, and other events; a community kitchen; a “Men in Sheds” workspace; an educational academy for youth pursuing sports industry careers; and floodlit 3G pitches for training and youth games.
The club, currently ground-sharing with Harrowby United FC in Grantham after losing its historic Lowfields Ground in 2021, sees this as a chance to return football to Newark while fostering local engagement and job opportunities.
The campaign has gained traction since a 3D model of the stadium was unveiled in February 2025, with supporters praising its unique design—offering elevated viewing platforms atop the containers—and its promise of an enhanced spectator experience.
If approved, construction could begin in the summer of 2025, with completion targeted for 2026.
The petition underscores the club’s vision of a community-driven project, with plans to involve local residents as shareholders via a Community Land Trust and provide training and employment in construction, coaching, and stadium operations. This grassroots movement reflects the club’s ambition to not only secure a new home but also create a lasting legacy for Newark.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞
On Saturday morning, we met with residents local to the Lincoln Road Playing Fields to get their feedback on the Community Stadium being built there and a wider ‘Yorke Park’ project that our Chairman, Steff Wright has developed. pic.twitter.com/jzIAy8wWHd
— Newark and Sherwood United Football Club (@TheHighwayMen_) February 23, 2025
The response was overwhelmingly positive in support of the project. To show your support by signing our petition and see answers to FAQ’s, follow this link: https://t.co/aSKwrrcTc2
— Newark and Sherwood United Football Club (@TheHighwayMen_) February 23, 2025
CHANGE.ORG PETITION, SIGN IT HERE:
The Issue
Sign this petition to show your support for the ‘Yorke Park’ Community Project, at Lincoln Road Playing Fields. The project comprises a Community Stadium for football, boxing, music and other events; a Community Kitchen; a ‘Men in Sheds’ workspace; an educational academy helping young people get a career in the sports and events industry; floodlit 3G pitches for training and youth games with additional changing rooms; tree planting creating a Woodland Walk.
The construction of this stadium will create jobs for local people with opportunities to train in construction, and provide further jobs in bar work, sports coaching, stadium operations and events management once the construction phase is complete.
Credit- Newark Advertiser
Fans sign petition to help 9th tier club’s £1.5m shipping container stadium plans
See info on the graphics above and FAQ’s on the project below:
Top 12 FAQs About the proposal for a stadium and 3G pitch as part of the Yorke Drive regeneration
1. What is the Community Stadium?
The Stadium is a proposed community-owned, eco-friendly sports and events venue built from recycled shipping containers. It will provide a home for football, music and other events alongside an academy for people wanting to work in the sports and events industry.
2. Who will own the stadium?
We are asking the council to transfer the land into a Community Land Trust (CLT), meaning local residents can become shareholders and have a say in how the site is managed. This ensures that the stadium and the wider land benefits Yorke Drive and Newark residents first.
3. What will be on the site besides football?
We want to make this a multi-use community hub. Potential features include:
A bar & cafe
A 3G training pitch
Two mini soccer pitches
The Highwaymen sports academy for people wanting to work in the sports and events industry
Classrooms
An expanded trim trail
An increased area of woodland park for dog walking with benches
An equipped playground area
A gym
A community kitchen
A men in sheds building (community workshop)
Community events & live music
Job training & skills development
Additional car parking
4. How will this benefit local people?
This is more than just a stadium it’s about opportunity. The project will create:
Well-paid jobs with training in construction, sports coaching, bar work, and event management
A vibrant social space for the whole community
Better sports and leisure facilities for local families
Discounted subs for junior football
5. What jobs and training will be available?
Unemployed residents in Yorke Drive will be offered training and paid work to help build the stadium. This includes:
Construction & trades (carpentry, electrics, plumbing, metalwork)
Groundskeeping & stadium maintenance
Hospitality (bar work, events, catering)
Sports coaching
Facilities and events management
6. What makes this an eco-friendly project?
The stadium will be built from 66 recycled shipping containers, reducing waste and costs. It will be designed with off-grid energy solutions such as solar power and rainwater harvesting, ensuring a low environmental impact.
Credit- Newark Advertiser
7. When will construction start?
If approved, work is expected to begin in the summer of 2025, with completion within the following year.
8. Why wasn’t this part of the original application for the playing field?
Sport Englands minimum requirements were 3 grass pitches and two mini pitches with some changing rooms. Due to budget constraints the Council only allocated a minimum budget for the project and therefore chose to go with Sport Englands minimum requirements
9. How will this be paid for?
We are asking the council to allocate the money they have already set aside for their basic option to the project. In addition to that we will access funding from the football foundation, the premier league stadium fund, alongside funding that Newark and Sherwood DC have already allocated for 3G pitches in Newark.
We will also raise money through the sale of shares and through sponsorship.
10. Will this delay the rest of the redevelopment scheme for Yorke Drive? No, our proposals can be carried out alongside the program that the council and Lovells have for the wider regeneration scheme
11. What clubs will use the stadium and training facilities?
Newark and Sherwood United FC – The Highwaymen, will be the Men’s Saturday team bringing FA Cup games and hopefully promotion games to the stadium. Alongside the Highwaymen we are talking to Newark Brazil and Fernwood Foxes who have teams for boys and girls football from under 6 to under 18.
12. How can I get involved?
You can…
– Attend our events and have your say
– Sign up for job and training opportunities
– Join the Community Land Trust to help shape the stadiums future
This is YOUR stadium, let’s build it together!
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