Why are shaw lane playing their games at athersley rec? Does their old ground not meet their new leagues standards?
SLA rented the rugby pitch from Bsley Rugby Club. In a nutshell after last seasons promotion they had to guarantee to the new league that they had 'priority' when it came to fulfilling fixtures, such as midweek, replays, rearranged postponed games etc. Under the arrangement they had with the Rugby club this couldn't be agreed. As such their only real local viable option was to approach Rec and a deal was struck. Mutually beneficial to both clubs in some respects imho but negatives as well. Anyway, what's done is done!
Positives, improved facilities at Sheerian Park, SLA have brought a new seated undercover stand, turnstiles and are providing media facilities and improving medical room, advertising boards and an away fans car park etc. Rec getting an annual rent. Rec get a % of SLA match day bar takings and assistance with maintaining the pitch and it secures Recs long term financial future For SLA it's a good new home and keeps them local Negatives, caused unrest amongst some Rec followers and their manager(with 27yrs at the club) walked after the announcement. None I guess for SLA apart from the obvious of moving home. Time will tell if it'll work, I hope so especially for the Rec as it's taken 38 years to get this far. Fingers crossed
I think they initially even tried to aquire Athersley Rec outright to have full ownership of the ground. But in the end they settled for a 10 year lease. I think part of the deal is also that they will make ground improvements. But they will get scheduling preference over Athersley Rec as they're in a higher league.
I thought they might have bought the over grown football field in Kingstone and built a new ground on it .
