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Floodlit football returns to ground after decade

Stuart RustSouth of England
Newbury Community Football Group A wide shot of a football pitch at night, illuminated by surrounding floodlights, four of which are visible in the picture. Newbury Community Football Group
The six new floodlights are required at the level Newbury FC hopes to be promoted to this season

A football ground is set to host its first floodlit match in 10 years as part of plans to boost its use.

Newbury FC will play against Burghfield FC at Faraday Road on Wednesday.

The site was left unused after the club was evicted in 2018, and much of it was destroyed in an arson attack in 2021, before it reopened in 2023.

The six new lights, part of a £1.25m council plan for the ground, are required at the level the club hopes to be promoted to this season.

Lee McDougall, from the Newbury Community Football Group, said floodlights were a requirement for clubs at Step 6 of the football pyramid, one level above Newbury's current position.

The club was evicted by West Berkshire Council's then Conservative administration, in a row over plans to redevelop the site.

Before then, the ground had a 500-seat stand, a clubhouse and changing rooms, but these were all removed.

McDougall said the club dropped several leagues and "came very close to collapse".

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service A wide building is pictured at night in flames, with smoke billowing into the air. A firefighter with their back turned away from the camera is crouched at the end of a hose. To the left, other jets of water from other hoses that are out of frame can be seen shooting towards the blaze.Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Much of the site was destroyed in an arson attack in 2021

Club chairman Danny Langford, who played for and managed Newbury before the eviction, said Wednesday would be emotional.

"I don't mind admitting that Wednesday night is going to be very emotional for me, seeing a resurgent Newbury Town FC playing under floodlights for the first time in 10 years," he said.

He said the club had attracted crowds of more than 300 to some games last season and hoped for "record crowds" on Wednesday.

McDougall said the floodlights were "a really important milestone" and that the ground was now "recognised as the vital community asset it is".

The council also plans to replace the grass pitch with an artificial one, but this was delayed earlier this year over concerns that microplastics could get into the nearby River Kennet.

McDougall said he hoped it could be laid next spring or summer.

Nigel Foot, the council's executive member for culture, leisure, sport and countryside, said previously: "The new floodlights will allow evening fixtures and training sessions to take place, helping clubs, players and residents to make more use of the pitch throughout the year."

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