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Newest article: Re: Preferred Ground Share? by Fastnet Rover20/9 23:06Sun Sep 20 23:06:14 2026view thread
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Preferred Ground Share?
Views: 661
Losing Earlsmead is sad on many levels but I'm trying too look to the future.
Where would you prefer to be ground sharing next season?
My ideal would be at Tithe Farm, it' still in Harrow, it's in walking distance of the station. I appreciate there are two clubs there already, but then Silver Jubilee Park is shared by Hendon, Edgware & Hilltop.
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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I think triple ground shares are just about banned. I had no idea Hilltop were playing at Kingsbury. Maybe they're seeking asylum? Can't see the natives from when I lived on Townsend Lane 35 years ago being keen on that! Most had Zee TV at £25 per month back then. I doubt they've allowed the place to go downhill.
I think Wembley / Vale Farm would make most sense, even though it's ridiculous there's no bus going straight there.
I don't like Northwood and someone else is playing there (this new Hillingdon-Hayes mob?). The walk across the park/heathland is almost as depressing as Clitterhouse Rec at Claremont Road and there's always dog shit all over the shop. Clubhouse & dressing rooms got broken into a fair bit when Wealdstone were there.
Can't see Hanwell making sense and Yeading almost killed Wealdstone, who have the constitution of a cockroach.
*Edit* Tithe Farm wouldn't be dire, but I don't see Broadfields moving out.
Edited by Grinetohkesleker at 01:31:25 on 15th September 2026
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
Views: 610
Why can't Borough rent Earlsmead ? It'll still be there !
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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It's going to be turned into something. Padel courts, possibly.
If there's a glitch with planning permission for the development, renting it next season might be possible, but I'd guess the buyers are confident there'll be no problems.
League "Blazers" are (rightly) not keen on clubs renting grounds for less than a season. If clubs get turfed-out mid-season, as Hendon did (Allegedly! Ahem!) things get awkward. "One off" grounds have to be found and away clubs might have to travel on Friday or Sunday at relatively short notice. League "Blazers" don't like that. Mr. Rogers & Mr. Gumm were very generous to homeless Hendon, but they still had to play a few games at Northwood and Staines. There was grumbling around the boardrooms of preferential treatment.
I doubt Earlsmead will still be there next August.
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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Thanks for the update Fastnet. Is there such commercial demand for Padel courts ?
Being a cynic, I wouldn't be surprised if, given the pressure for housing, the rules suddenly mysteriously change
and the ground is made available for a lucrative property development.
If a groundshare is necessary to keep the club alive, I wondered if the old Hillingdon Borough 'Middlesex Stadium'
in Breakespeare Road Ruislip could be available, although I expect the council has its eyes on that.
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
Views: 630
"We hate Hillingdon Borough!" was the opening line of Barnet's version of the "Land of Hope & Glory" song in the mid-70s! Shows how far they fell. Were second in the Southern League in the 1960s.
I doubt their ground is available. It's probably doing well as a hire-out. Some clubs at this level play pre-season games there. Wealdstone played someone there first game a few years back. It was 33°c. A few players reported back overweight & were blowing early. The mild-mannered & diplomatic assistant manager was not impressed!
Someone will make $$$$ from Earlsmead. It's a question of resilience and slowly grinding away at the bureaucracy.
I greatly admire Andrew Landesberg for his persistence and tenacity in eventually getting a decent wedge from Claremont Road. I don't think many at Hendon begrudge him his money.
Edited by Grinetohkesleker at 14:47:08 on 15th September 2026
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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My guess is Earlsmead will still be there next season & beyond.
As for it being leased for football, I think that is unlikely.
A groundshare at one of the options mentioned in this thread is likely.
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
Views: 526
Interesting.
The ground remaining intact brings the possibility of a professional club making enquiries of the new landlords. Some pro club in the area will likely be looking for a base for its youth or ladies teams. QPR ressies played at Earlsmead for a while... Back when pro clubs had ressies.
I suppose the question is whether the new owners want to go through the charade of using the ground for a short/medium term project, until they overturn current planning restrictions and build houses.
That is likely to depend on whether any short/medium term project is likely to "wash its face" financially. I have doubts about Padel courts.
"The Biggest Farmers' Market in the Southeast! Prices 75% Lower than Borough Market!" I can see an entrepreneur/spiv reckoning he/she might attract enough "investors" - & farmers - and swing the council for that.
A suburban "Hyde Park Winter Wonderland" wouldn't be impossible.
I'd guess the legitimate travelling community has existing contracts in place for the sites used for fairs & circuses.
The ground & clubhouse remaining empty raises the possibility of a squatters' encampment springing up - a la Claremont Road. More likely to be "enrichment communities" from lower down the evolutionary echelon than the Romanians in NW2, as diversity has moved on at an impressive pace in the last 18 years. An empty ground ain't a good idea
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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Obvious choice is surely Wealdstone. Deal to be done.
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Re: Preferred Ground Share?
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One or two of their hardcore fans - OK, one or two dozen of their 200 hardcore fans - might object strongly to that. Their Ladies still play there, they've a lot of "fan zone" days when there are Wembley games and they have a few other events there for various communities - though not the landlords' community. I think they'd feel constrained to charge a "going rate" rent, which wouldn't be viable.
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