Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Ambitious community project for Norton Road
Tuesday, June 29 2004
Hitchin Town unveiled plans for a major development at Norton Road sports ground in Baldock this week, including the type of all-weather surface currently being used by clubs like Manchester United.
The facilities will include a third generation, FIFA-approved, artificial `AstroPlay ®` playing surface; refurbished and extended changing rooms; educational facilities; and a physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic.
The project will provide a training base for Hitchin Town Football Club's successful scholarship scheme and will also provide sports facilities for public use, including other local sports clubs. This will include use of the educational facilities, notably, a learning workshop equipped with computers. The provision of these facilities is in conjunction with North Hertfordshire College, who are keen to extend educational community facilities to Baldock by investment in the project. Roger Gochin of North Herts College was present at the meeting and said the college was very pleased to be involved with the project and hoped it would come to fruition.
"This project represents one of the biggest investments in sporting facilities ever seen in North Hertfordshire. We are delighted to link up with North Hertfordshire College in moving this forward as it will not only benefit Hitchin Town FC, but also provide a genuine community asset," said Hitchin Town's Andy Melvin.
The redevelopment of the Norton Road sports ground will be the culmination of three years' intensive analysis of the best options for a multi-purpose site. "We see Norton Road as the hub of our future plans to create a sports club that represents a region with a catchment area of more than 100,000 people," added Andy Melvin.
The Norton Road project will be discussed next week at a Council planning meeting. Funding for the project will come from grants, community-aid and an investment by North Herts College.
