Row over Guildford FC's plans to build new stadium

Guildford FC wants to boost its profile in the area

Plans by amateur football club Guildford City to build a new stadium on a site earmarked for regeneration is being opposed by some residents.

The club has said they want to move from their rented home at Spectrum Leisure Centre to a Brownfield site to the east of the town.

They said they needed to find a more suitable home to boost their profile.

Residents living nearby said the stadium would bring "unwanted traffic and disruption".

New facilities

The club want to be part of the Slyfield Area Regeneration Project, an industrial site which has been earmarked for housing and retail units.

The land is owned by Guildford Borough Council, Thames Water and Surrey County Council.

We believe any small positives that a new stadium could bring... would be greatly outweighed by the negatives

Barry Keane
Weyfield Residents Association

The club, which plays in the Combined Counties League Premier Division, said they wanted to have a wider role within the community.

They plan to create a reserve and ladies team and build a gym within the stadium complex to house local sports clubs.

Club official Matt Howell said: "The club is committed to improving the Slyfield area, and would like to reiterate that we are attempting to provide facilities that will benefit as much of the community as possible."

Barry Keane, the chairman of Weyfield Residents Association, said: "We believe any small positives that a new stadium could bring to our community would be greatly outweighed by the negatives."

Guildford Borough Council said it was "in the early stages" of putting together a draft master plan for the future of Slyfield.