Phoenix football club celebrates championship and 10-year lease
Supporters of Hereford FC had plenty to cheer on Saturday after the club became league champions for the third consecutive season and extended its stadium lease until 2030.
The agreement with Herefordshire Council is a major achievement for the club, which was the phoenix replacement for Hereford United which collapsed in 2014.
The club started in the ninth tier of English football but three successive promotions means the club will play in the National League next season.
More than 4,500 fans were at its Edgar Street stadium to see Hereford beat Kettering United to become Southern League Premier Division champions.
Hereford FC Chairman, Ken Kinnersley said: “The lease extension now means we have security until the summer of 2030, which will justify continued investment in the stadium by the club and, hopefully, set at ease any concerns about security being felt by any of our supporters.
“The Directors believe the lease extension is a clear endorsement by Herefordshire Council of the commercial stimulation every match day at Edgar Street brings to the city centre and that officers feel that the club is being managed both effectively and efficiently as a business.”
The club will now move forward with plans to return the ground to a four-sided stadium.
The wider area has undergone substantial redevelopment in the last four years, with the opening of the Old Market shopping development in 2014 and the construction of the City Link Road in 2017.
The proposed ‘Urban Village’ project, part of the Hereford 2020 Edgar Street regeneration, could potentially mean joint investment from Herefordshire Council and Hereford FC for a new stand and facilities at the Blackfriars Street side of the stadium, with the opportunity for nearby retail outlets.
Cllr Harry Bramer, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Contracts and Assets, said: “The security of the club’s tenancy until 2030 is a real boost for the club and for the fans.
“Herefordshire Council is looking forward to working with Hereford FC to build on this year’s league success by planning and investing in the stadium – potentially transforming the Edgar Street area and providing new opportunities for retailers.”
