Ebbsfleet United reveal plans for the redevelopment of the PHB Stadium, Stonebridge Road
Published: 08:30, 27 January 2015
Ebbsfleet United have revealed the big plans for their redevelopment of the PHB Stadium.
The club are staying at Stonebridge Road but new stands and extensive non-football facilities will transform the ground over the next few years at a cost of £3.5 million.
A brand new main stand will replace the Liam Daish terrace, which runs along the Stonebridge Road side of the ground. This stand will house all key football, commercial, sponsor, media and operational requirements.
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At the Plough End, the plan is for terracing immediately behind the goal with seats further back - and a sports bar beneath the pitchside area, which can be hired out on non-matchdays.
Next to be redeveloped will be the Swanscombe End and the current main stand.
The ground will have a capacity of around 6,000 upon completion, including 2,000 seats.
Hundreds of Fleet supporters were at the ground on Monday night to view the plans and they also had the chance to speak to manager Jamie Day, chairman Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi and vice-chairman Peter Varney.
Video: Ebbsfleet reveal redevelopment plans - Jem Collins reports
Dr Al-Humaidi said: "We want to make this football club financially sustainable and without these investments in stands, it would never become financially sustainable.
"The aim is to remove dependency on external sources of financing. We hope, with this as a start (the new main stand) and then the three stands later on, it will become a financially sustainable football club.
"Also, we want to make a signature stand, to show people that live in this area – and elsewhere – that we’re ambitious not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well."
Mr Varney added: "When you see something like the new stand on Stonebridge Road, it's a £3.5million development at this level when most non-league are half a million and very basic facilities, that’s not a hard sell to the players.
"When you back that up with someone who’s prepared to invest in the team and the club, it becomes an attractive proposition. A lot of these players and the manager have dropped down levels to come here, which makes a statement in itself."
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Steve Tervet