WORK to turn Parkside into an A category ground is likely to go ahead this summer, writes Dennis Aris.

The £150,000 plus plan would enable Kendal Town to meet requirements for the UniBond League Premier Division if they should reach, and win, the First Division play-offs.

The turnaround in Town's fortunes from nearly dropping out of the UniBond League altogether at the end of last season to the current position where they are hovering on the edge of the play-off zone has been nothing short of dramatic.

Now the club has responded to the encouraging performance of Peter Smith's squad by making a planning application to:

Increase the seating capacity of the ground,

Create modern changing facilities for teams and officials, Update the inadequate floodlights,

Improve the pitch surrounds,

Provide comprehensive facilities for disabled spectators.

Most of the money for the project is expected to come from a grant of up to £150,000 from the Football Foundation's Stadium Development Fund, says Kendal club secretary Craig Campbell.

Main item in the development is an extension to the north end of the main stand which will increase seating capacity by around 90 seats.

The old changing rooms underneath the grandstand will be ripped out and rebuilt. That rebuilding will include a new treatment room, which can also be used as a dressing room for lady referees.

To date no women have officiated at Kendal, but it is only a matter of time as they have already taken charge at other league venues, said Campbell.

Both spectators and player will benefit from a new floodlighting system with almost double the power of the existing set up. The aim is to replace the towers in each corner of the ground with four floodlights down each side which will cast more light on the pitch and waste less into the surrounding area, said Craig.

Work has already started on making a complete tarmac surround for the pitch, another requirement should the club achieve promotion.

A special covered concrete area is to be provided just inside the club's main gate for wheelchair users and a special toilet for the disabled will be included in the main stand redevelopment.

The whole project is a far cry from the situation just 12 months ago when the club was on its knees financially after being hit by the dramatic walk-out of manager Mick Hoyle whose team of imports largely from his former club at Fleetwood had failed to perform.

The appointment of Peter Smith, ironically a Hoyle signing himself, brought a swift change.

Wages bills were slashed to keep the club solvent, yet half-a-dozen of the Hoyle signings stayed and have become top performers.

The inclusion of local players in the squad brought increased spectator interest. "Gate receipts have increased by 20 per cent," said Campbell. "We would still like to see more people at matches, but that is pretty good.

"The club is now run by a committee of 16 with Dave Willan chairman and is a much happier place," he added.

The reserve side is also enjoying a fine season and are runaway leaders of Division Two of the Westmorland League, with the better players being given first team chances by Smith.

Now a play-off place with the lure of a passport to the Premier Division is not beyond the bounds of possibility, but after several seasons of narrow escapes from relegation: "a top 10 finish would be more than pleasing," said the secretary.

"It is all very encouraging, both on and off the pitch," said club chairman David Willan. "It is costly work which has to be done to make the ground A status.

"Officers and committee are working very hard to make the ground right to keep the club in the league and a great deal of voluntary hard work is being done by people who give up their weekends to do things like concreting.

"It is a very pleasing season after all the traumas of recent years."

January 17, 2003 11:30