Future of football club safer after ground sale
SEMI-professional football club Farsley Celtic’s Throstle Nest ground has been sold by administrators to Leeds City Council in a move which is hoped will secure the club’s future.
Local community and sports facilities will also be protected under the deal, which was negotiated with administrators Mazars.
Farsley Celtic went into administration in June 2009 and dropped out of the Conference North league as a result.
The Council has subsequently completed a deal to sell on the main part of the football ground to FC2010, the new name for the reformed football club, but has retained the ownership of the sports hall and land proposed for new football pitches as assets for the local community.
The administration team, consisting of accountancy firm Mazars and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, agreed the deal.
Robert Adamson, a partner at Mazars, said: “It is great news for the community that we have been able to strike a deal with the Council for the sale of this land.
“The sale of Throstle Nest protects the ongoing use of the land as a sporting facility, and will ensure that the land is used for junior football in particular which has always been our main concern as administrators of the club.”
Councillor Adam Ogilvie, executive member for leisure at Leeds City Council, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to safeguard Farsley Celtic’s facilities- especially the use of the sports hall by the local community and football coaching for young people in West Leeds.
“Completing this deal also allows Chartford Homes to move on with plans for their proposed housing development, which includes making funds available for improvements to the sports hall and the creation of two new junior soccer pitches, improving the leisure facilities for the local population.
“We look forward to following the re-formed club in the league next season and wish them the very best of success in doing the city proud.”
It is understood the land next to Throstle Nest will now be leased to FC2010 Holdings for use by their new football club.
Chartford Homes is to build a number of homes close to the ground.
