Ripon City AFC, has announced plans to move from its Mallorie Park ground and create a new custom-built facility elsewhere in the city.
The club, which celebrates its 125th anniversary next year, has been playing at the ground for more than 100 years.
But a long-held ambition to find a more suitable location is now taking shape, following a formal offer to acquire the site made by an unnamed care home operator.
Club secretary and former player Daniel Metcalfe told the Stray Ferret:
“We’ve been looking elsewhere for many years and by drawing up and publishing plans on our website, we are signalling our serious intent.
“This is the first major piece in our jigsaw and there are many hurdles to cross, but we are determined to create a new place to call home and see the club thrive over the next 100-plus years.”
He added:
“A shortlist of potential locations has been drawn up, but the move will only take place when we have a new site with all necessary planning and other approvals in place.”
Ripon City AFC’s Mallorie Park ground
On its website, where initial draft plans can be viewed, the club says its privately-owned ground:
“Has significant challenges across a number of areas such as lack of security, unauthorised use, criminal behaviour (drug dealing, drug use and violent crime), criminal damage, limited to one pitch and more importantly restrictions on improvements.”
As a not-for-profit community amateur sports club run by volunteers, Ripon City AFC plans to use proceeds from the sale of its ground to develop new facilities and states on its website:
“The aspirations for our new facility will be a purpose-built, secure facility with a floodlit 3G pitch, a floodlit grass pitch, seated stands, multipurpose clubhouse containing community and event spaces with bar and catering facilities, fully accessible changing spaces and a first-floor housing classrooms and office space.”
Ripon AFC accepts that its plans will not have unanimous support, saying:
“We appreciate that not everyone will be supportive of our proposals.”
It does, however, add:
“The proposed facilities will be a game changer for sport (not just football) in Ripon and the wider district.
“A new facility would also support the club to grow on and off the pitch to ensure that we survive for another 125 years.”
The 150-member club, has 100 registered players in teams that compete in the West Yorkshire League, Harrogate and District Premier League, the North East Regional Women’s Football League and the Harrogate and District Junior Football League.
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Harrogate Town’s new women’s manager leaves suddenly
The manager of Harrogate Town‘s women’s team has left — five days after his appointment was announced.
The club issued a press release last week saying Liam Cope had taken over the reins and had already recruited several players. He was also due to help with player development.
But today a Town spokesman said “the agreement has since been ended and we are looking to recruit again”.
Cope, who has managed Ossett Town Ladies and been assistant manager at Leeds United Women, was due to arrive with a backroom team including a nutritionist and goalkeeping coach.
He said his ambition was to take the club to the next stage up the football pyramid by reaching the Women’s National League.
But the role is being advertised again. The closing date for applicants is Tuesday next week.
The Stray Ferret asked the club why Mr Cope had left suddenly and whether his backroom team would also not be joining the club.
A club spokesman said he understood “the club and Liam had mutually agreed that it would be best for him not to continue in the role”.
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Harrogate Town Ladies currently play in the North East Regional Women’s Football League, which is one step below the Women’s National League Division One North.
They play home matches on the 3G pitch at Rossett Sports Centre, with their first fixture scheduled to be at home to South Shields on September 4.
Mr Cope said it was a fantastic club and he didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone at it.
But he added it was a club “in a state of transition” and “I’m not at a stage in my life where I can join a club in transition”. He added he “wasn’t aware of the size of the project” when he agreed to take on the role.
Harrogate Town women’s team appoints new manager
Liam Cope has been appointed manager of Harrogate Town’s women’s team, the club announced today.
Cope has previously managed Ossett Town Ladies and been assistant manager at Leeds United Women.
He brings with him a backroom team including a nutritionist and goalkeeping coach, details of which will be confirmed later.
Cope has set his sights on taking Harrogate to the next stage up the football pyramid by reaching the Women’s National League. He said:
“The Women’s National League is somewhere I’d like to be again, I see no reason why Town can’t be playing in that league in the next year or two.
“The team has gone from strength to strength in the past few years and we’re going to give getting to the next level a real good go.”
Cope, who begins his role next week, has already set the ball rolling recruiting players for another season in the North East Regional Women’s Football League, which also includes the likes of Sheffield Wednesday Ladies and York City Ladies.
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He said:
“I’m looking to build a squad of players that are comfortable on the ball, with a good range of passing, technical and tactical ability, but most importantly have the right mentality.
“I want players to be brave on the ball, if a player makes a mistake we move on, but the one thing I will not accept is lack of intensity or lack of effort.
“We are welcoming new players who want to play good football in a positive environment with a coaching team that will support you 100% no matter what.
“If you want to join an ambitious club then this is the place to be.”
Player development
Cope will also play a role in the club’s player development centre, helping nurture young footballers throughout the development stages. He said:
“I know we have a real good programme coming through the girls’ player development centre and that’s something I want to promote and grow.
“The impact of the Euros is going to be huge, to beat Sweden in the manner we did shows the standard of women’s football in this country, if that encourages local talent to get involved at any age then that is a massive positive.”
Cope can be contacted on 07798 841696, or via girls development officer Becky Wilson at Beckywilson@harrogatetownafc.com.