Floodlights boost for promotion hopefuls
ALCESTER Town’s hopes of promotion have been given a massive boost after plans for floodlights at their Stratford Road ground were approved by Stratford District Council.
It will mean that if the Romans are crowned champions of the Herefordshire League Premier Division, they should be given the green light to climb up to step six of the non-league pyramid where they could face FC Stratford.
The club is already extending the clubhouse at the ground and the floodlights were seen as the final barrier to their promotion should they win the league.
A report drawn up by officers at the district council explained that while the ground was on green belt, the development would ‘enhance and improve the existing community facility, serving a demonstrable need’.
Each of the six LED floodlight poles will be 15m tall and the report went on to say that there had been no objections from the district councillor, Alcester Town Council or neighbours - the football club is situated next to a care home on the outskirts of the town.
The plans were approved with a number of conditions, the key one being that they would need to be switched off at 10pm on weekdays and at 6.30pm on weekends.
Alcester Town are currently two points clear at the top of the table with six points in hand on nearest challengers AFC Kempsey. Promotion would see them promoted to either Division One of the MFL or the Hellenic League where FC Stratford currently sit in the play-off places.
On Saturday, they needed some stern words at the break before overcoming a stubborn Westfields Reserves side 6-0 with Adam Garmson bagging a brace.
The league’s basement club had held the league leaders to a goalless draw after 45 minutes prompting assistant manager Tony Round to admit: “At half-time there were a couple of home truths said to a few of the lads - in the right way - just to get them to fire up a little bit.
“I think we moved the ball much better second half. There was more energy about us, we looked a little bit more clinical up top.”
