ALTON Town FC’s move from the Bass Sports Ground to the club’s old home at Anstey Park grows ever closer

The work to upgrade Anstey Park for Step 5 football began in August and should be completed later this month.

Brewers chairman Jim McKell said: “Whatever the exact time table, we are secure at our current home until the new one is completed and ready for use.

“We will announce the date of our final celebration fixture at the Bass Ground in the near future. We would ask all non-league people and everyone who has ever had an association with the club to join together on that day – past supporters, helpers, players, committee, managers, coaches, including past opposition members.

“Sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us in whatever form. A solution has been found and it would seem that all will be well.”

Ten years have passed since Molson Coors, Alton Town’s landlords, informed the club that the Bass site was to be sold for development.

The resulting protracted negotiations and wrangling between Coors, the club and the council have been well documented in the Herald.

Eventually, Molson Coors agreed to a solution that would see them finance the upgrading of the Town Council-owned Anstey Park stadium to Wessex League standards. This would include up-to-date floodlights and the provision of a 3G artificial grass pitch (approved for match play by the FA) together with a replacement stand and re-designed changing-rooms.

Such improvements would enable Alton United Youth, the current leaseholders, and Alton Town to come together as one bigger club and thereby enable all to benefit from these improved facilities.

The final hurdle was overcome when Molson Coors were granted planning permission for the Bass Sports Ground, with the restrictive covenant on the ground being removed in an agreement between Coors and East Hampshire District Council.