It’s been a few weeks since the supporters evening, and it’s about time we gave you a quick stadium improvement update.

With various projects currently in hand, some forced on us by dilapidations, others designed to improve the spectator facilities, others to comply with National League rules….or a mixture of the above, there’s a bit going on at the ground!

Genco Stand – The away fans corner toilets and safety control room portakabins.
After some delay in order to obtain a funding contribution from the Football Foundation and to negotiate supplier contracts, these two old portakabins are currently in the process of being replaced by brand new ones. The brand new toilet facilities will be accessible to all for the majority of matches this season, which are due to be non-segregated.

Genco Stand – Bar area.
We are intending to refurbish the bar area and add an area for smokers behind the Genco Stand this autumn. The bar area will be decorated and furnished to give it a bit more comfort and warmth and make it a go-to refreshment bar on match day, before, during and after the match. We’ll elaborate further on this soon.

Genco Stand – North West Corner.
We plan to install a food and drink kiosk for all supporters but particularly home fans for segregated matches. The ‘bus’ is in place and will open this autumn. We will keep you posted.

Riverside – TV Gantry.
The plan was to build this scaffold structure last season along the West side, behind the dug-outs. It is required by the rules of the National League. Following relegation we don’t have to build it anymore but we decided to fund it anyway. It will improve the TV viewing position considerably and we can finally kick out Stones TV from the Manchett Stand(!). Oh and we wanted to be ready for when we return to the top division… We have to obtain planning permission, so it will not go up for a few months yet.

We hope you will all appreciate these efforts to make supporting the Stones an even more enjoyable habit.

Oliver