CHAIRMAN MAKES A STAND

Boreham Wood Football Club are delighted to confirm that tonight we have been granted planning permission to build a brand new covered home stand at the North End of our Meadow Park ground.

The 1,400 plus standing terrace is expected to begin construction in May 2018 and is part of a two-stage process, which we hope will later include a stunning new East Stand, sports and community hub.

These plans are the brainchild of chairman Danny Hunter and have been in the pipeline for several years now. So, the chairman, club staff and supporters are delighted to finally get the planners and counsellors to give the first phase, its seal of approval.
Wood’s home supporters have long asked for a covered home terrace at the north end, and we hope it will help them to create an atmosphere on match days. They have now got their wish come wind, rain or shine.

The club hope that the stand will not only cement our long-term Football League ambitions, but also boost the support needed from the community of Borehamwood and the surrounding areas. This phased development continues to show the progression that Boreham Wood Football Club are making, as one of non-league’s fastest growing teams.

The stand will stretch nearly the entire north end of the ground and will conform and be constructed, to meet all Football League safety standards. It’s the Wood chairman’s long-term aim to create a 5,000-capacity stadium that conforms to the seating, standing and safety standards of Football League ground grading criteria in every way possible.

With the club increasing its capacity slightly, there will also be the widening of the north end concourse, the instillation of a new catering kiosk, a new toilet block inclusive of additional disabled toilets and a stand giving improved site lines, complete with a new club shop.

The design means that the stand will enclose the north end of the ground and improve the acoustics, it will improve the match day experience for all and with a newly landscaped back drop, it will improve the overall look of the stadium for the residents of Broughinge Road. 

Chairman Danny Hunter said: “this is I suppose, 19 seasons of perseverance coming to fruition and once again it’s proof of the small steps progress that we’re continually striving to make at the club.

“So, I’d like to thank the local residents, thank my very loyal staff and thank the people of Borehamwood for their patience and for believing and supporting my vision even if it’s taken a while. I’d also like to thank the council’s planning department, the unseen but vital council officers and the local councillors for their help, guidance and their continued belief in what we’re all trying to achieve here as a progressive community club, council and town.

“I’d like to think, that this next phase of my chairmanship, is the beginning of a new era of success for our football club both on-and-off the park. I believe success for the club means success for the people and our ward of Cowley. I believe a strong club benefits our residents, rewards our fans, and is the reward for our club’s community ethos, that raises our town’s profile and Football League dreams…

“When this fantastic North Stand is built, and trust me it will look fantastic, the supporters will finally have something to be very proud off behind the home goal, and finally something to keep them dry when it buckets down haha.

“But in all seriousness, we must keep progressing ourselves step-by-step, as I also want to build a stunning new East Stand, that if designed properly, can bring our community together and embrace a sports and education hub, an adult learning environment, and create all manner of opportunities for local people, in a facility built for everyone within the town and local area.

“If I get it right and I believe I will… It will increase further investment in our local ward, it will increase investment within our town, it will help create increased support, lead to more jobs for local people, it will help create third party spend within the local shopping parades, increased income for our newsagents, taxi ranks and within our pubs, restaurants and in our retail parks.

“In truth, I’m bursting with pride tonight, at what we’re achieving, it’s not been a quick fix by a fly-by-night owner. It’s taken 19 seasons of hard work, perseverance, love, care and more than a few sleepless nights to get us this far. And after all that, I’m still nowhere near where I want to be, in order to take our town to a place that none of us could have dreamed of when I took over in 1999.”