Lib Dems announce plans to support the Tigers (Jeremy Hilton)

Lib Dems announce plans to support the Tigers

March 16, 2010 8:04 AM

Jeremy Hilton supporting the Tigers

Liberal Democrat councillors are proposing to help Gloucester City Football Club through difficult times with a council cash grant of £20K per year.

Following an appeal from the football club's Supporters Trust Liberal Democrat councillor Jeremy Hilton is to propose a motion for debate at the council meeting on the 25th of March.

The motion agrees to support the club to the sum of £20K per year for the next two years if the Tigers decide to play at Cheltenham Town FC home ground.

Gloucester City ground at Meadow Park was destroyed during the 2007 floods and currently the Tigers play at Cirencester, but this ground no longer meets the minimum standards for the Football Conference.

The most suitable ground is Cheltenham Town's Whaddon Road stadium, but the annual rent will rocket to £45K per year.

Jeremy Hilton said: "We have to support the club through hard times. Playing at Cheltenham will help the club survive until they can return home to Gloucester.

"The ground meets the standards of the Football Conference and it will be much easier to get to for Tigers' fans.

"On the playing field the Tigers did brilliantly to get promotion to the Football Conference. We must now support them until they can return home to Gloucester."

Declan Wilson who will second the motion said: "The cost of playing at Cheltenham will be much more than Cirencester and Gloucester City FC need to sign an agreement very soon.

Our offer of council financial help will cushion the blow of the added expense and help the club survive challenging times."

The motion reads:-

"This council, in recognising the importance of Gloucester City FC to the city, agrees to investigate the feasibility of assisting the club with the cost of a ground share up to a maximum of £20K per year should the club agree to use the home of Cheltenham Town FC until the Tigers can return home to Gloucester.

This funding be confirmed for a maximum of two years."

Proposed by Jeremy Hilton

Seconded by Declan Wilson

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