Swinton Lions have revealed plans to develop a new community stadium.
The club has signed a lease on a 7.3-acre site at Agecroft, within the traditional boundaries of Swinton & Pendlebury, at which it’s proposed to construct a new community stadium within the next three years. The Lions have already identified a number of community partners, including Salford City Council, who will work with the club to help secure a permanent home for the Lions at a site which will also serve as a focal point for sport, community and education in Swinton.
Swinton Lions Chief Executive Steve Wild said; “Like all other Swinton fans, it remains my dream to see the Lions playing back in Swinton where they belong. Our 150th Anniversary this year serves to reinforce the importance of the heritage of this famous club, and for the Lions to have been unable to play in the town for the past 24 years is a tragedy which has arguably cost us a generation of potential fans. But the construction of this facility, will not only have Swinton playing back in Swinton, but it will also place the club at the heart of the community, both in sporting and non-sporting terms.”
In the meantime, the club will at Sale RUFC’s ground at Heywood Road for the remainder of the 2016 season, subject to RFL approval
Head coach John Duffy said: “Myself and the players fully understand the position that the club is in, but from a playing perspective we need to find a settled home venue quickly. This season we’ve not really enjoyed home advantage yet, but hopefully we can make Heywood Road a difficult place for our visitors. It’s a nice wide pitch which will suit the way we set up, and the facilities there are excellent. Myself and the players would urge our fans to back us there in numbers and make it an intimidating ground for the opposition.”
