Football Returns To Scarborough Sports Village After A Year Away

Football is set to return to the Scarborough Sports Village following a year-long exile for local clubs as North Yorkshire Council confirms repair work dates.

Football is officially set to return to the Scarborough Sports Village following a challenging year away from the ground for local clubs.

The stadium, which is owned by North Yorkshire Council, serves as the primary home ground for both Scarborough Athletic and Scarborough Ladies Football Club.

During a planned resurfacing project at the facility last year, the pitch was found to have serious and unexpected structural issues. These complications included significant drainage and masonry concerns that rendered the surface unplayable and prevented the teams from using the facility.

As a result of the extensive problems, the "Seadogs" were forced to relocate their home fixtures down the coast to Bridlington for the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign.

Now, officials have confirmed that the extensive repair works are nearing completion, paving the way for the clubs to finally return to their home turf for the upcoming season.

Councillor Liz Colling, chair of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee, provided a detailed update on the progress of the contractors currently working at the site.

Councillor Colling said:

"Wilmot Dixon completed all the civil drainage work and the type three layer on the 20th of May and Sports Lab tested this for porosity on the 21st of May and that's to make sure that the water is draining as it's supposed to drain.

Wilmot Dixon completed the tarmac layer on the 27th of May and that was tested and the tarmac layers are the one that I think people have been concerned about because it looks pretty grim, but that is an essential layer before the next bit goes on.

SIS, the international leaders in sports pitches have been on the site since the 1st of June and they're installing the shock pad and then the green bit that we can all see called the carpet.

So all that work together will be completed and tested by the 26th of June."

The installation of the final playing surface marks the end of a complex reconstruction process designed to ensure the previous drainage failures are comprehensively resolved.

With the physical works drawing to a close, the local authority is now focusing on the logistical challenges of bringing the teams back to the Scarborough Sports Village.

Councillor Colling added:

"The work together will be completed and tested by the 26th of June. NYC officers are in regular contact with the two main clubs that use the pitch which are Scarborough Athletic and Scarborough Ladies to assist with their transition back to using the pitch for the beginning of the season.

So it's been a rough year, especially for Scarborough Athletic playing away in Bridlington, but we have got there and that comes with the guarantees, but Matt Dixon have been very good at meeting their obligations."

The return to the town will be a welcome relief for supporters of the clubs, who have had to travel to Bridlington to watch their team's home matches over the course of the past year.

Scarborough Athletic have announced they will return to the stadium with a friendly against Barnsley on Saturday the 25th of July, with a confirmed kick-off time of 1pm.

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