Future's looking bright for FC Stratford
FROM having dark clouds hanging over them, FC Stratford look like they’re heading into the sunshine.
It’s been a tough time for the Hellenic League Division One side following the departures of Danny Janes and Tom Milward to fellow league rivals Pershore Town.
The now departed chairman Dave Poulson had been working tirelessly to keep the club going in those difficult circumstances, especially with a number of players deciding to move on to pastures new.
In the end there’s only so much one person can do, but thankfully the club’s future is looking secure. FC currently play their games at the Home Guard Club in Tiddington, but from next season they have been offered the chance to return to the Arden Garages Stadium.
The move would bring the club back under the Stratford Town banner, adding to the pathway for the club’s youngsters to reach the first team in the Southern Premier Central.
Steve Sykes, who is overseeing FC’s potential move back to the Arden Garages Stadium, told the Herald: “Dave Poulson, for all his years of service, decided he could not take things any further. We had a conversation a few weeks back where we asked Dave if he’d like to bring FC Stratford back under the Stratford Town umbrella. The plan is to have that clear pathway from the academy right through to the first team at step three.
“The chairman, Jed McCrory, is 100 per cent behind this and is excited about the future. The club will still be registered as FC Stratford, but they would still have close links with Stratford Town. This means there is a club nearer to the level of the first team.
“If FC Stratford could get promoted, they would be another step closer to Stratford Town and could enter the FA Cup, which would be amazing.
“Having FC Stratford back at Stratford Town would be a great move for the club because it stabilises their future. There have been dark clouds hanging over FC Stratford ever since Danny Janes left, but now they can see the sunshine again. Ever since Stratford Town moved from Masons Road to Knights Lane, FC Stratford have always been a part of us and we hope to continue that bond.”
With the club’s future seemingly secured, Ian Cooksey and Neil Chaundy will be taking charge of FC in Hellenic League Division One with the aim of trying to help them finish in the top five to secure a play-off spot.
They will then have the option of leading the team on their return to the Arden Garages Stadium from the Home Guard Club, a venue Sykes paid tribute to for all the help they’ve given FC this season.
“The Home Guard Club have treated FC Stratford really well and Jackie Proctor has really helped them stabilise this year,” he said.
“All we can do is thank them for everything they have done for FC Stratford and we hope we can still stay in close contact with them and have some form of partnership.
“Whether that’s by having some of our younger teams going across to there, I’m not sure yet, but we’d like to maintain some form of relationship.”
