Work Starts On New Home Of Football

Work has begun on Guernsey FA's new £10 million home.

The facility is being built on the Victoria Avenue playing field in St Sampsons.

The project is being part-funded by a near £1.2 million grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation and £150,000 from the Premier League Stadium Fund.

The rest of the money will come from private donations and The Football Association HQ Grant.

The new ground will have capacity for 400 seated spectators, a floodlit 3G pitch, and a grass pitch for 9-a-side matches and training.

There will also be a clubhouse and changing rooms block.

Rihoy & Son has been selected as main contractor for building Guernsey's new home of football for the Guernsey Football Association, which has a completion date of 2025.

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Photos: Lovell Ozanne & Partners Ltd #RihoyGuernsey @Guernsey_FA pic.twitter.com/yoC8d8WzkK

— Rihoy & Son (@RihoyandSon) July 18, 2023

Gary Roberts, CEO of the GFA, says it will be the GFA’s first permanent home since it was founded in 1893:

“Football has more than 2,000 active participants on a weekly basis in Guernsey, so we’ve made it an absolute priority that the site will be accessible, inclusive and affordable for the whole community.

The 3G playing surface is compliant with the recommended FIFA international pitch size, so will provide Guernsey with top-quality facilities for football at all levels, from those who play casually with friends, to youth-level football, all the way through to Guernsey FC and representative football."

Following its completion in spring 2025, Guernsey FC will play home matches there and it will be the venue for all future Murattis that Guernsey hosts.

 Academy manager Ross Allen has dismissed concerns about traffic in the area:

"The Track for years has hosted the Muratti and there's never been too many issues, and as we've seen over the past week with the Island Games I think it will work really successfully.  Most people parked elsewhere and walked."