CHARD’S football future has been thrown a lifeline thanks to the announcement of a joint venture with Holyrood Academy.

Chard Town Football Club’s search for a new home away from their current Zembard Lane base has rumbled on for many years and this season the FA ruled that the infamous sloping pitch fell outside the guidelines for an acceptable playing surface.

Now The Robins have teamed up with the town’s secondary school to unveil ambitious plans to build a new clubhouse and artificial 3G pitch within the grounds of near-neighbours Holyrood.

The club’s current ground could be developed for housing to help fund the new base.

In a statement, club chairman Richard Allen said: “For a number of years Chard Town FC has been aware of its serious position regarding the pitch grading criteria required by the FA to enable it to retain its present Level 6 status.

“The club has sought to relocate to a level site for 30 years in order to comply, without success.

“In early December, the principal of Holyrood Academy approached the club regarding the school’s desire to become involved in the development of community sport facilities, including football, and to this end a proposal has been put forward that a new site could be made available within the Holyrood campus, subject to the necessary approvals.

“To benefit the whole community, the aspiration would be to provide a 3G all-weather pitch on the Holyrood campus site, which would provide a new ground for Chard Town FC, new clubhouse/meeting room and car parking.

“These facilities could be used by the academy during school hours and by the wider community in the evenings and at weekends in conjunction with the football club.

“There will no doubt be many hurdles to overcome with such a major project – one of which is funding. All possible avenues need to be explored and grants would have to be forthcoming from the FA and other agencies to make this possible, together with Chard Town FC providing funding from its own resources. Holyrood Academy and Chard Town FC will be looking to the whole community, local town and district councillors to give their full backing to this project.

“The club is very aware that it is only due to the academy’s generous offer that after 30 years this is the first real opportunity to secure the longterm future of senior football in Chard, while having the dual benefit of being an enormous asset to the wider community and nothing less than the second largest town in South Somerset deserves.”

The Perry Street & District League and the Western League have both endorsed the scheme and FA chairman Greg Dyke recently said it was his ambition to see more 3G all-weather pitches in the country for grassroots football.

In the meantime, Chard will have to seek a ground-share arrangement with other clubs who meet the grading standard to cover the interim period – so far two clubs have responded with an offer.

Holyrood principal Martin Brook said the proposals formed part of his wider vision to create greater links between the academy and the sporting community. He told The News: “It’s really exciting news but we are a long way away from getting a definite decision.

We were aware the football club were being forced to relocate and ever since I came here last January I have been keen to build links with local sporting clubs.

“We have built similar links with the rugby club and the hockey club, and it is very much part of my vision for the future to improve facilities for the academy, the sports clubs and the wider community.

“We feel we have a piece of land on the lower site that may be an obvious solution to a problem.”

Chard Town first team manager Adam Fricker said: “As far as the footballing side of things is concerned it’s all plusses.

“3G pitches are definitely the way forward and more and more teams are getting them. It will mean we won’t have to worry about where we are going to train and we won’t have to worry about games being rained off.

“The club needs to be improved and a new pitch and facilities will definitely help to attract new players and improve the standard of football we play.”