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Frank Whittle Partnership makes FC United's stadium ambitions come to life
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The Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) has successfully managed the project to deliver ambitious non-league football club FC United of Manchester’s new home in the city.
And the new 4,000 capacity Broadhurst Park ground in Moston will open its doors to fans in a specially arranged showpiece match against Portuguese football giants Benfica on Friday May 29.
The FWP team has provided project management and quantity surveying support for the development of the £6.3 million development at the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields.
The traditional-style ground, designed by Cheshire-based architects IBI Taylor Young, includes a 2,500-capacity terrace behind one of the goals, which has been created using a stand transported from Northwich Victoria’s former ground.
A new state-of-the art 3G and two grass pitches for community use make up the sporting complex, which will also be home to the Moston Juniors club.
Final touches are being made to Broadhurst Park and there will be a series of test events before the Benfica game.
The match will be a dual celebration since FC United’s promotion to the Conference North was confirmed in April, which means they are now just two divisions below the Football League just a decade after their formation.
Around half of the cost of the development was funded by the club’s 4,000-plus membership with the rest coming from grants and council loans.
Daniel Thompson, Associate at FWP, which has offices in Preston, Manchester and London, said: “Broadhurst Park is looking fantastic and will be a great home for FC United, as well as providing sporting facilities for the local community.
“It has been a real team effort to get to this stage and we’re all looking forward to seeing the team and Benfica step out onto the pitch for what promises to be a great occasion for everyone involved in turning the vision into reality.
“The new ground is a real community asset for Moston and will enable FC United to continue its development as a community football club and continue its success on and off the field.”
FWP has a strong track record in both designing and project managing the delivery of state-of-the-art sporting facilities – particularly to lower Football League and non-league football clubs.
More than 60 sports clubs throughout the country have benefitted from FWP’s advice, with many of them going on to design and build modern new facilities.
FWP has worked on projects with Preston North End and Fleetwood Town and is developing stadia and community assets for clubs such as Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United and Berwick Rangers.
It has designed a striking 12,000 capacity all-seater ground for Scunthorpe United - part of the masterplan for a £40 million out-of-town football and leisure development created by FWP’s architecture and design team for the club.
FWP’s portfolio of highly successful sports projects includes the acclaimed revamp of the historic Doncaster racecourse, home of the St Leger meeting.
The practice has played a major role in ambitious regeneration and redevelopment plans which centre on Rugby Union club Leicester Tiger’s Welford Road stadium.