Go west gamble has paid off for Romans
ALCESTER Town’s gamble to ‘go west’ was a risk worth taking according to chairman Steve McAdam.
The Romans are sitting pretty at the top of the Herefordshire Premier League and in line for promotion to step six of non-league’s football pyramid where they could be lining up against FC Stratford and Southam United next season. They had previously been members of Midland Football League Division Two along with Earlswood Town.
“There was always a nervousness about whether it was the right thing to do,” McAdam said. “We had to weigh up the factors of travel and whether the lads would buy into it but in the end, we found that the travel wasn’t as bad as we had anticipated.
“It was a gamble but we are currently top of the league with two games in hand so it seems to have been the right choice.
“We went into the league thinking we would have a good chance but then you never know how strong some of the other teams are going to be. Apart from the top few then it’s fair to say that it isn’t as strong as MFL Division Two but we can only beat what’s in front of us.
“At the end of the day then I’m sure if we would have stayed where we were then we’d have been in the mix along with Knowle, Northfield - who we thought would be strong after coming up - and Birmingham United. We chose a different route and we are quite happy with that decision at the moment.”
Work is soon to start on extending the clubhouse at the club’s Stratford Road ground and plans are in place to put up floodlights.
McAdam added: “As long as our ground meets the criteria then if we win the league we will get promoted. We are waiting for an email from the ground grading department of the FA to do a ground inspection.
“When we had the inspection last year, we failed on a few things. One was the floodlights but we hadn’t even put in for planning permission whereas we have done that now and are expecting a decision imminently from Stratford District Council. There were a few other little things but we have tackled those.
“I don’t see any reason why the [floodlight] plans won't get approved as we have the support of Alcester Town Council and there are no objections from neighbours or the various bodies. There is also a statement written by our district councillor Susan Juned. We will then have a period of grace if we get promoted, they have to be put in place during that season.
“As for the clubhouse, we have appointed a local contractor and the work is scheduled to start in the second week of March. We are then looking at a 16 to 20-week building programme.
“The new clubhouse will then give us seating capacity for between 80 and 90 people inside and that will give us much better hospitality facilities here at the ground.
“The current canopy over what used to be the driving range will come down and the building will be extended outwards. The kitchen will be ripped out and improved and there will also be a committee or hospitality area in the bar which can be partitioned off. There will also be a new canopy providing a standing area for matches.
“We hope that when the juniors are training in midweek, the parents can sit inside in a warm environment and have a coffee or a drink rather than sitting in their cars for an hour. Race nights and other money-raising events can also be done at the ground rather than in one of the local pubs. We see it as being an asset for the whole of the community.”
The Romans booked their place in the semi-finals of the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl on Saturday with a 2-1 win against Worcester City. See this week’s Herald for a report, interview and pictures from the game.
