Blaenavon Blues AFC

Work has began on the final stage of the new development at the Memorial ground, with a local building firm moving on to the site to start the construction of the extension to the changing rooms.

 

The same builders will also be responsible for the erection of the spectator stand, the dugouts, the perimeter fencing and the spectator railings around the pitch. The contractors hope to be finished by the end of February but that is weather permitting.

 

 

Currently the new playing surface has a number of issues mainly the fact that it’s holding a lot of water on the surface, which is not getting to the new drainage system. There is also an issue about and existing drainage ditch that runs the length of the pitch, which is also holding water at present. We are continuing to work closely with Torfaen Council on solving these issues, and we look forward to get to play on the new ground in the future.

Work on the new facility at the Memorial Ground is advancing, while the contractors have lost a week due to the great British summer, it could have been more. The new drainage system has been installed and the turf was laid this week. It will take 2-3 months for the turf to bed in before any action can take place on it! The council are still working through the planning application for the erection of the Specator stand, dug outs, perimitter fencing and the extension to the changing rooms!

More updates to follow as and when we get them!

The newly laid turf at the Memorial Ground Tuesday 25th Aug 09

Work has BEGAN on the new Blaenavon Blues AFC senior football ground. Contractors Blakedown moved on to the site last Wednesday, to start on the ground works for the new drainage system. The former Blaenavon Harlequins rugby ground is now unrecognisable, as the old stand, has been demolished, and the old playing surface removed, as well as the old drainage system. It is hoped that the ground works will be complete within 7-8 weeks with the new turf in place by the eighth week. The turf then takes at the very least 6-8 weeks to bed in, the longer the surface is the left before a game takes place the better.

 

 

'The Old Stand' At the Memorial ground, or whats left of it!

 

The additional work such as the extension to the changing block, and upgrade of the existing changing facilities, as well as, the erection of the new perimeter fencing, dug outs, spectator railings and stand will start at a later. Keep an eye on the clubs website for continual updates on the club, the teams and the new facilities that Blaenavon Blues will have to offer.

 

The Memorial Ground 15th July 2009, A view from the middle of what will be the pitch towards the changing rooms!

The Cricket Pitch

Finally after months of waiting the Cricket pitch has got some grass on it! Orginally the council had planned to seed the whole area, but due to such a cold winter, they had to re-think. Turfing the playing surface was the only way forward to meet their deadlines. Finally after weeks of waiting the turf has been laid. It will take 6-10 weeks for the turf to take before the pitch can be used.

The newly laid surface at the Cricket Pitch

The Memorial Ground

Work is due to start on the new senior pitch and set up within the next few weeks, at the former Quins pitch. Torfaen have had to reel in their orginal time line due to the WAG who are part funding the new Blaenavon Campus. And as such Blaenavon Blues should be in their new home by Christmas at the latest! The new senior set up will include a new senior football pitch with new drainage systems, fully railed off, new stand to house 100 specators, new dugouts, an extension to the changing rooms, including updating the toilet area in the exsisting changing rooms, and most importantly a new perimeter fencing!

The Memorial ground, the line of trees have been removed, this is the side the new stand and dugouts will be on!

Go to the photo gallery page to see new pics from both sites

 

Jan 09 :- The start of the Cricket Pitch

 

Back in the late autumn of 2008, Torfaen Council made their first steps in the new Blaenavon Campus, but if you visited the site of the former Leisure centre and our home ground the Co-op Field, the new home of the Blaenavon Campus, you would be at a loss to find where these first steps have been taken. But a visit to the former Cricket Pitch situated on the Estate Road opposite ITW Foils Ltd and you will find these first steps to a better future for the children of Blaenavon.

 

This is the ground that will be home to the Blaenavon Blues Women’s side and part home to the junior section of the club. The juniors also play games on the Coke Yard, and on the Rifle Green pitch.

                                                                A View of the former Cricket Pitch site, during work to redevelop the site Dec08

                                                                                      There are more pictures on the Photo Gallery page

 

Torfaen council have commission local company Blake Down to redevelop the former Cricket Pitch into a football pitch of a high standard playing surface along with a superb drainage system, in readiness for the start of next season. The club is working hard with Torfaen Council to secure funding to erect much needed changing rooms on the site, this is something which is ongoing and if anybody can help in securing any type of funding please do not hesitate in contacting the club.

 

The contractors have been hit by the bad weather since starting on the Cricket Pitch, firstly it was the rain, and then in November the cold weather kicked in, we have been experiencing the coldest start to a winter for 30 years. The contractors had planned to get the grass seed into the ground by early November but with the continued cold snap that deadline has come and gone, to get the pitch read for the start of the new season, the ground will have to be turfed if the money is available.

 

The senior section of the club is due to leave their Co-op Field home of more than 60 years at the end of next season (2009-10). We are required to leave, as our ground will be used as part of the new Blaenavon Campus development. For more information on the Blaenavon Campus, Torfaen Council have a website dedicated to the project and you can view it by clicking on the following link.

 

www.torfaen.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/BlaenavonCommCampus/Home.aspx

 

The club have been in talks with Torfaen Council for the past 15 months on the issue of the club having to be relocated. We as a committee and club have seen this a positive step, while a lot of time and effort has been given up by the committee to ensure that what Torfaen Council provides the club meets our needs, and replaces what we will lose.

 

                                                                                        The current changing rooms at the Memorial Ground Dec 08

 

It has been talked about in Blaenavon that the club Blaenavon Blues are gaining financially for moving home. But this is totally untrue, the club will not be gaining anything from moving home, the only thing we will gain is our new ground. We as a club have not been negative to Torfaen Council but have worked very hard with the council, and hopefully over the next 18 months the town of Blaenavon will have gained a Welsh league standard football ground, with a spectator stand, a first class playing surface which will rival anything in South Wales, and a modernised changing facility with an hospitality viewing area.

 

The ground that the club is moving too the Memorial Ground is currently occupied by the Women’s and junior section. And as such Torfaen council had to re-home those too and so the Cricket pitch is being redeveloped.

                                                                            The Memorial Ground from the changing room end Dec 08

 

The Memorial ground or former Quins pitch which it is better known, is in a state of disrepair really, Torfaen Council plan to remove all the large Conifer trees from around the ground. Put in a complete new drainage system, import quality top soil and re-seed the pitch. Erect a new spectator stand and spectator railings around the ground. And hopefully add an extension to the current changing rooms for a hospitality area. Work on the memorial ground is due to start at the end of this season, which will give the contractors 15 months to get the ground up and running for the big kick off in August 2010.

 

Keep an eye on this page, as we will be placing updates on here during the next 2 years as things progress. There is also more picturres on the Photo Gallery Page.