Scarborough Athletic Football Club Chairman Trevor Bull says that the club has yet to be issued a specific start date for the long-awaited repairs to its 3G pitch.
Despite the lack of a definitive calendar date for the commencement of work, Mr Bull has expressed confidence in the assurances provided by North Yorkshire Council that the facility will be ready for the start of the 2026/27 season.
The pitch, which serves as the home ground for both Scarborough Athletic and Scarborough Ladies Football Club, was found to have serious and unexpected structural issues during a planned resurfacing earlier this year. These complications, which include drainage and masonry concerns, have forced the "Seadogs" to relocate their home fixtures to Bridlington for the duration of the 2025/26 campaign.
Reflecting on the current situation and the recent wintry weather affecting the Yorkshire Coast, Mr Bull remains focused on the long-term goal of returning home. Speaking on the absence of a confirmed start date, he said:
"We haven't been given a date and it's probably a good job given the snow at the moment, but we haven't been given date, I keep focused on the fact that they've assured us that it'll be finished before next season.
So, I'm not overly concerned about the start date, although like everybody else, I'd love to see them make the start. It's the start date is not concerning me. It's just we need to keep focused on the end date, that we will be back next season. That is where we need to focus our energies."
North Yorkshire Council has stated that groundwork is expected to begin in January. According to the council’s assistant director of culture and leisure, Jo Ireland, the repairs are "technically complex" and involve installing a structural mattress and a tarmac sub-base to ensure the pitch has a sustainable future for Scarborough. The council is currently in advanced negotiations with the contractor, Willmott Dixon, to finalise the programme of works.
While the physical work is prepared in the background, the club is working tirelessly to shore up its finances. The move to Bridlington has presented significant logistical challenges, but the chairman highlighted the extraordinary commitment of the fans in keeping the club stable.
Mr Bull credited several initiatives for maintaining the club's financial health during this period of displacement, stating:
"We got the no battle no victory fund that's ticking away nicely in the background and the people that have contributed that every month they are really making a difference that that that is something that is really keeping us going through these difficult times.
We've got the count me in campaign on a match day if people can't make through to Bridlington they can donate what they would normally spend through that and yeah we're still selling shirts and bobble hats and scarves and everything we can.
I must take this opportunity to thank our supporters because the support we've had both financially and just through People's commitment and care has been tremendous over these past eight to nine months since we we let people know that we'd got this problem.
Our supporters have taken this very seriously and we're working as one to make sure we we get through and come home in great shape."
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