Football club unveil expansion plans

A major sports complex suitable for the whole community is being planned in Portishead.

Rugby, netball, cricket and more could be housed at Portishead Football Club’s Bristol Road home, if their plans come off.

They have been in discussion with Portishead Town Council in recent months and hope to extend their lease by 40 years and attract national funding to make their dreams come off.

And if everything comes together, the club says they could one day build a skatepark on site.

The club’s vice chairman Mark Stallard said though the immediate priority was creating a hub for Portishead’s sports teams.

He wants Bristol Road to become the home of the town’s cricket club, Portishead Pirates netball team and maybe Gordano Rugby Club if possible.

He said: “We want to try to turn the football club into a community facility.”

The club has enjoyed significant growth off the field recently with other junior football clubs merging with Portishead Town.

Mr Stallard says this means the club has a bright future and can improve facilities as a result.

He told the Times: “There’s going to be a lot of changes and with a 40-year lease and with at least 500 players we will be in a great position to access funding for a 3G or 4G facility.”

The town council has yet to agree an extension to the lease, but Mr Stallard says the initial discussions with it have been encouraging.

At the council’s recent recreation and works meetings it has been suggested by committee chairman Cllr David Oyns that a skatepark could be built at the football club.

Mr Stallard says it is a possibility but admitted the decision would rest on whether it could make the premises bigger.

He said: “If we could be able to use some (more) of the land then never say never.”