Football club may have new ground

The ground at Meadow Park is now completely overgrown

A new ground may have been found for Gloucester City FC, which was made homeless by the summer floods of 2007.

The county council has agreed in principle to make Blackbridge Playing Fields in the city available for a new stadium for the club.

Meadow Park was engulfed by 6ft (1.8m) of water last July and the pitch has now become overgrown.

The club has been playing home matches at Cirencester Town's ground, the Corinium Stadium, this season.

Blackbridge Playing Fields, off Stroud Road, is next to an athletics track.

The discussions are at an early stage, but the council said it was hopeful a solution could be found.

Councillor Ray Theodoulou said: "The club have been homeless since last year's floods and are anxious to secure a return to the city as soon as possible.

"Positive discussions have already taken place between the club and council officers with a view to bringing this project to fruition at the earliest possible date."

Water swamped the entire pitch during the 2007 summer floods

Club chairman David Phillips said: "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we're really excited at the prospect of coming back to Gloucester.

"Losing Meadow Park was devastating and while we're grateful to our neighbours in Forest Green and Cirencester Town for putting us up, we should be in Gloucester and the thought of coming back home is a really exciting prospect."