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 | | You are in: You are in: Football: Teams: Bournemouth |
 | | Tuesday, 7 August, 2001, 15:52 GMT 16:52 UK A new dawn at Dean Court  The club will boast an impressive all-seater stadium soon The Mayor of Bournemouth has viewed the redevelopment of Dean Court - and BBC Sport's Mark Mitchener was there to join the tour. Bournemouth's new stadium has received the Mayoral seal of approval after he was shown around the redeveloped Dean Court. Councillor Douglas Eyre admits to having been a supporter in the early 1970s. And now he is one of many people whom the club hope to tempt back to what will be an all-seater stadium with much improved facilities. "We're a big conurbation, but we haven't got a first-class stadium. The football club need it, but I think the people of Bournemouth will appreciate it too," the Mayor said.
"I have to pinch myself to see it really happening. Having been at Dean Court when I was a lad, we've had so many false dawns. "And even when we were battling it out with the council to get a grant, there were so many cynics saying 'this won't happen'. "To give the directors their due, they really have worked hard. I was a season ticket holder in the years of John Bond but having seen it now, I think I'll be signing on again." The pitch has been turned through 90 degrees over the summer but already looks immaculate. The new main stand is now being fitted out internally while its seats are bolted on. Work has also begun on the framework of the second stand.
The Cherries will begin the season ground-sharing at Dorchester but chairman Tony Swaisland admitted the club want to return to Dean Court "as soon as we can". "Without making any commitment, I am anticipating we will be back playing here before the end of October," he said. "It depends on the contractors, Football League approvals and health and safety. "The facilities at the old stadium were, to say the least, primitive - but we hope at the new stadium, we will see increased gates." Company secretary Andrew Noonan, an architectural technician, has been involved with the Cherries' stadium plans for the last decade and is "very excited" it is finally taking shape. "I've been involved since about 1991 - but it's amazing that it's taken nine years to bring to fruition, although it's only taken nine months to build," he admitted. The club plan to open the ground when two sides are completed - with the third side to follow shortly after that, increasing the capacity to 9,600. A fourth side will only be added when funding is available. Swaisland added: "I think it was a question of it having to happen.
"We were faced with a situation in March where we had a week before our planning consent ran out, we would have lost our grants from the council and the Football Foundation and the Football Licensing Authority finally lost patience with us. "They said to us if we didn't redevelop Dean Court, only one of the four sides would be available we were virtually faced with no alternative. "So I'll feel a sense of pride when the first ball is kicked at the new Dean Court but until then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed." | | Other top Bournemouth stories:  Links to more Bournemouth stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||
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