League football at Faraday Road

West Berkshire Council, in partnership with Newbury Community Football Group (NCFG), are delighted to announce that plans are well underway for Newbury Football Club to return to Faraday Road as their home ground, following their recent promotion to the Thames Valley Premier League.

We have been committed to revitalise this local ground and have procured portable changing facilities for teams and officials, alongside a portable Clubhouse and toilet facilities where the former clubhouse stood.

Coaches and players will also benefit from new dugouts and floodlights have been secured for evening training sessions. A portable spectator stand will be added shortly, ensuring fans can enjoy matches comfortably.

These facilities have been designed with the future in mind - they're fully portable and can be repurposed at different locations within the district as we work towards adding more permanent structures in the future. Over the summer, significant work to the playing surface on the pitch will take place to ensure it's in top condition for the upcoming matches.

Cllr Nigel Foot, Executive Member for Culture, Sport, Leisure and Countryside at West Berkshire Council, said:

"I'm really excited about getting senior football back to being played on Faraday Road football ground.

"This is just the start of our shared vision with NCFG to elevate Faraday Road back to the important position we believe it deserves within our community."

Lee McDougall, from Newbury Community Football Group, said:

"This is another major step forward in returning community football to Faraday Road. We have been campaigning for this since the ground closed in 2018 and we are working closely with West Berkshire Council to look to the next phase of development including the feasibility review of a 3G pitch."

Newbury FC aim to play their first home game at Faraday Road in over 6 years in September. Ifor Sheldon, Vice Chairman of Newbury FC, said:

"Faraday Road is our spiritual home, and we can't wait to get back playing there with this being our home ground."

The additional facilities will make the ground compliant with FA National League System (NLS): Ground Grading 7 status, with the ability to add further enhancements to increase the ground grading as Newbury FC get promoted in future seasons.

Photo (L-R): Cllr Nigel Foot (West Berkshire Council), John Stewart (NCFG), Cllr Vaughan Miller (Newbury Town Council), Lee McDougall (NCFG), Nic Robbins (NCFG), Cllr Jeff Brooks (West Berkshire Council), Jason Braidwood (NCFG)