Update: Cantilever Park

Warrington Town can confirm that Cantilever Park is impacted by the new perimeter barrier rules being implemented by the Football Association.

The updated Stadium Accreditation Criteria means solid brick, breeze block and concrete barriers around pitches will no longer be permitted at Steps 1-6.

The review was prompted by the tragic passing of Billy Vigar, who died after suffering a significant brain injury following a collision with a perimeter wall while playing for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley last season.

The club has already been proactively assessing and consulting with third parties regarding the work and estimated costs.

The entire pitch perimeter will need to be removed and replaced. We had hoped that this would have been permitted to be done at the end of the season to minimise the disruption, however as per the FA announcement, action is required imminently.

We have been in dialogue, as many other clubs have, regarding what funding is available. Funding for the new perimeter fencing is one thing, but the costs and possible remedial damage caused by the removal of the existing perimeter will be significant.

For example, we estimate the removal cost of the existing perimeter concrete alone would be around £12,000 - and that’s without any labour costs. It will also mean that Cantilever Park will be out of action when the works are undertaken, which we estimate will be between 3-4 weeks.

We have been working to try and find a suitable window that minimises disruption to the existing fixture schedule. With thanks to the co-operation of Quorn FC, our fixtures against them have been reversed - meaning we will now travel to face Quorn on Saturday 31 October, and then host them at Cantilever Park on Saturday 10 April.

That means work will start immediately after the home game against Bury on October 24, with our next home game after that date now being on November 21 against Guiseley.

While the timing is frustrating, it goes without saying that we acknowledge the reasoning behind the updated criteria and we look forward to the new perimeter fencing being in place as another step forward in the continuing development and improvements to the ground over the past few seasons.