The article mentions some positive developments at the ground. If I had one tentative suggestion (given the financial context) it is whether there was any potential for a small amount of stepped terracing to avoid potential issues with the grass verges. Would there be any prospect for the Football Grounds Trust to provide some grants?

I was also interested to hear that Hodgy describes the recruitment of Gray as the best thing that has happened to the club. After last week's CIC meeting, I must admit that I am also rapidly coming around to that conclusion. What I saw was hugely determined character, energetic, direct in his comments and supremely well organised in his thoughts. His knowledge of the local youth leagues also came across well.

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This empty sanitised shell of a stadium, a cathedral to the vanity and narcissism of one man. It’s very difficult to fall in love with football amongst the rows of empty seats. The notion that a stadium has worth beyond its potential commerical value or it’s proximity to transport links – as a spiritual repository of the hopes,fears and agonies of generations of supporters, or as a physical manifestation of the football club in the community, is a dying one in football (Sam Volkman)

It's not suprising. Not sure if he mentioned it at the meeting but I think it was through his son but Martin was involved with 21st Allstars in some capacity - which makes it even less suprising we have managed to get training facilities sorted at Longfield.

I will be interested to see how the TJFA thing works given we will be playing in the same divisions as Spraire/Allstars/Mount Pleasant/Middleton Rangers/RA Juniors etc.

he said TJFA was the best youth league in the country.

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This empty sanitised shell of a stadium, a cathedral to the vanity and narcissism of one man. It’s very difficult to fall in love with football amongst the rows of empty seats. The notion that a stadium has worth beyond its potential commerical value or it’s proximity to transport links – as a spiritual repository of the hopes,fears and agonies of generations of supporters, or as a physical manifestation of the football club in the community, is a dying one in football (Sam Volkman)

I doubt we will be looking for grants to improve Bishop's ground, it is already fine for their needs. Erecting a small stepped terrace down on side or end of the pitch might be viable when we get a venue and Darlington, but really doing it at Bishop is a waste of time because you couldn't take it with you.

I think 1883 have the right idea at the moment, looking at companies who can provide bolt on stands that can literally be taken with us. Getting a 250 seat bolt on stand is a no brainer because it increases the seating to 500, probably slightly increases the capacity, and gives us 250 seats to take to a new venue, that crucially can be added to bit by bit.

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72

You're right it is not a priority. More a longer term development for BA.

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This empty sanitised shell of a stadium, a cathedral to the vanity and narcissism of one man. It’s very difficult to fall in love with football amongst the rows of empty seats. The notion that a stadium has worth beyond its potential commerical value or it’s proximity to transport links – as a spiritual repository of the hopes,fears and agonies of generations of supporters, or as a physical manifestation of the football club in the community, is a dying one in football (Sam Volkman)