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Football stand to finally open after 10 years

James Grant,BBC News, Northamptonshireand
James Burridge,BBC News, Northamptonshire
News imageJames Burridge/BBC A two-storey stand in a football stadium. The first level has claret and white seats while the second level has two glass pitch-facing boxes. James Burridge/BBC
Northampton Town's East Stand has been 10 years in the making

After 10 years in the making, a long-awaited stand at a football club is set to officially open.

Northampton Town Football Club's newly built East Stand has stood incomplete since construction work stopped in 2014 due to a contractual dispute, but work restarted last summer.

The club is now "on track" to open the stand in the coming weeks with several tester events planned.

Kelvin Thomas, club chairman, said: "We made a commitment to finishing the stand no matter what was thrown at us and I'm really proud how everyone has worked together."

News imageJames Burridge/BBC A view from the second level of a football stand. Two rows of claret seats are behind a glass balcony overlooking another row of seats and a covered football pitch. James Burridge/BBC
The cost of the East Stand is expected to be over £5m
News imageJames Burridge/BBC Kelvin Thomas, in a black quilted jacket, seated in an empty football stadium. James Burridge/BBC
Kelvin Thomas has owned the Cobblers since 2015

The new stand will increase the capacity of the Sixfields stadium by about 400 to more than 8,200 and give the club its first pitch-facing hospitality with executive boxes.

The stand, which is sponsored by Lawrence Cleaning Services and will be known as the LCS Stand, will also feature a new concourse with televisions, food kiosks, retail space and toilets.

On the second level is a large kitchen for hospitality, a bar, lounge, boardroom, corporate boxes that seat 10 people, and 24 accessible spaces for wheelchair fans.

The club finalised an agreement to complete the stadium work after West Northamptonshire Council approved a land sale to the club in February last year.

This deal included land behind the stadium, an area that has been the focus of ongoing discussions about development plans over the years.

News imageGetty Images A football pitch with an unfinished stand in the background. Getty Images
What the East stand looked like when work stopped in 2014
News imageGetty Images The new East Stand illuminated in flood lights at night. Getty Images
Cobblers fans will soon be able to watch evening games under the lights in the East Stand

According to Mr Thomas, the total cost of the stand will be in the region of £5.5-6m.

Land behind the stadium has been earmarked as potential warehousing sites with money raised to be reinvested back into the football club.

News imageJames Burridge/BBC A long wooden table with eight seats and cutlery set in a room. A grey carpet and glasses are also in the room. James Burridge/BBC
New dining areas form part of the new look East Stand

Mr Thomas added: "We've invested on the pitch to try and retain our League One status.

"We feel very comfortable and confident about the decisions we've made. We're doing our best for Northampton and it gives us a lot of pride.

"The plan is to develop the land [behind the stadium] and the funding will stay in the football club. It's an asset for the club, we will use it to improve the football club."

News imageJames Burridge/BBC The entrance to the new stand featuring Northampton Town's crest on the left hand side of the entrance. Above the glass doors, a sign reading "The LCS Stand" can be seen. James Burridge/BBC
The new LCS Stand should officially open in the coming weeks, according to the club

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