Southern League Division One South club Hamworthy United announce groundshare to avoid demotion a year after facing potential extinction.
The club had been in talks to share Dorchester Town’s Avenue Stadium for the start of the 2023/24 campaign, as per Dorset Echo in April.
But instead, they will now play their football at Weymouth on a temporary basis so that the building of a new stand at Hamworthy can be built.
They currently fall short of ground grading requirements due to having no stand, leading to Hamworthy looking at extending an agreement with Dorchester.
As many are aware, we have stand issues!
We have had to commit to contributing towards a new one which was not part of any budget this or next year, so we are now pleading to everyone’s generosity and have started a go fund me page.
Please share.
— Hamworthy United FC (@HamworthyUtdFC) April 27, 2023
Hamworthy were unable to stage the Southern League Division One South playoff semi-final at ‘home’ on the 26th April, owing to having no stand, and therefore failing to comply with the FA Ground Grading regulations.
The Hammers said: “Despite the club having agreed a joint application for the building of a new stand with the Dorset FA, which is hoped to be completed by the start of the new season, it has not been a sound logistical or financial option to introduce a temporary stand at such short notice.
“To that end, Hamworthy United are currently in negotiations to arrange a ground share option at Dorchester Town Football Club for the start of next season, in the event that the new stand isn’t finished in time, as per the FA Ground Grading requirements.”
After earning promotion as Wessex League champions, Hamworthy finished third in the 8th tier for 22/23, sitting 14 points behind champions AFC Totton.
Weymouth 🤝 @HamworthyUtdFC
The two clubs have agreed a temporary Groundshare whilst The Hammers have renovations done to their ground.
Full Story: https://t.co/lGMG7j3Y09#terrastogether
— Weymouth FC (@theterras) June 17, 2023
Club Statement: Southern League Status
— Hamworthy United FC (@HamworthyUtdFC) June 17, 2023
HAMWORTHY STATEMENT ON NEW GROUNDSHARE:
The Weymouth Football Club Board of Directors have agreed to offer a short term groundshare with Hamworthy United whilst work is undertaken on installing their new stand at the County Ground. The club faced the real threat of being demoted back to the Dorset Premier league due to ground grading issues.
Weymouth FC is run by volunteers and we understand how devastating that would have been to those that have worked tirelessly to get Hamworthy into the Pitching In Southern League Division 1 South.
Hammers Chairman, Steve Mitchener made the following comment:
“I would like to thank Weymouth Football Club, the board of directors, especially Chairman Paul Maitland, for their help in securing a ground share option for the forthcoming season, which will allow Hamworthy United to remain at step 4 in the NLS, whilst a new stand is built at The County Ground.”
Terras Chairman, Paul Maitland commented:
“When we were approached late last week by Hamworthy and learned how bad their situation was we felt compelled to offer our support for another local side. Less than a year ago we faced the very real prospect of extinction and we needed the goodwill of other clubs and people to carry on, now it is our turn to step up and show the same support.”
This is how fans reacted as Southern League club Hamworthy United announce a groundshare to avoid demotion after facing potential extinction…
@KeithW16: Fair play to Paul Maitland and Weymouth FC 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Known Paul a long time, proper football bloke
@KeithW16: Different class 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@jambojames1968: Thankyou to the tireless work of the @HamworthyUtdFC directors to give us a future and to @theterras 👏👏 the club now need us more than ever over the next few months with our support through these difficult times .. Thankyou everyone who made this happen ⚽️⚽️
@jameshicks94: Certainly not an ideal groundshare but if it means the club can stay at Step 4 then we can’t have to many complaints. Hopefully the new stand gets sorted soon
@NeilCar41894768: Good move by both clubs
@westcountryfb: Great news!
@MooreSuper: Bit of a trek to @theterras but at least we can stay in the @SouthernLeague1. A three league drop would have undone all the great work done in the last few years
@HUFC1926Group: Thank you @theterras ⚒️❤️
@timallanmedia: Well done Terras, pity that the more local clubs couldn’t help a team in need, I wonder what it will be like when the shoe is on the other foot at some time in the future 🤔
Fatima Patel: That’s great news
Tim Allan: Well done Terras, pity that the more local clubs couldn’t help a team in need, I wonder what it will be like when the shoe is on the other foot at some time in the future 🤔
Eli Bayes: Massive thanks to Weymouth football club for helping Hamworthy out #upthehammers⚒️⚒️⚒️
James Kirk Brown: Well done Weymouth
Gabriel Phelps: A tremendous example of the true solidarity shown in the semi pro game, well done to Steve Mitchener et al for their tireless efforts.
Bruce Scammell: Thanks to everyone involved with both football clubs 👏⚽️⚒️
