Lingfield FC are in a race to raise enough funds to see the club through the 2024/25 season and into next year. The Surrey based club haven’t played a home game for over 600 days due to drainage issues at The Lair on Godstone Road.
There has been a gradual increase in the number of games postponed due to having a waterlogged pitch which has culminated in essentially no football being played at the ground through the winter months.
The Lingers have had to find alternative pitches to rent in order to prevent a backlog of games and have regularly played games at Whyteleafe FC, Steyning Town FC, Horsham FC or reversed matches to play them away (as our home game).
However, as many will agree it’s unsustainable and in 2023, under the guidance of our newly appointed Chairman, the club seeked a long term solution to the ongoing problem.
This solution came in the form of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which essentially is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. The club were successful in their bid and received the green light for £230,000 worth of drainage to be installed on our fields so that the ground could recover quicker from any significant rainfall. For the 2023/24 season, Lingfield ground shared at Horley Town FC so that the works could be complete with a view to returning for the 24/25 season.
Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen reasons, including delay to funding and receipt of our updated lease, the works could not take place until September 2024. The contractors arrived to begin the works on the pitch mid-late Sept and then informed the club that the ground was sodden and that it would be too risky for their heavy machinery so the works had to be postponed.
This has been extremely frustrating for all involved has left Lingfield in a precarious situation. With thousands of pounds already spent renting alternative pitches, ground sharing for a season (for both 1st and U23 sides) and now similar with Oakwood FC for the start of the 24/25 season has also come at a huge cost.
However, it has been agreed for the drainage works to take place in Spring 2025 and although this is when the cricket club usually takes the pitch back, the wore will be completed before either club can return.
Lingfield FC provided us with the following statement:
‘We need to raise the funds in order for both of our senior sides to play at another ground for the rest of this season. Unfortunately, we have no way of generating revenue, outside of gate receipts, which are evidently down as we’re not playing at home. So we are leaning on the football family for support. Simply put, we’re fighting to keep this 130-year old club afloat.’
‘If we can survive this season, we’ll be back at home next year, generating our own funds and continuing to serve the community as we always have. We’re reaching out to everyone who has played for or against us, volunteered, or even just enjoyed a match or two with us over the years. Your children or grandchildren may play here one day, and your support now will ensure that the club is still here for future generations. Now is the time to give back, if you can.
Big or small, your contribution will help us see this season through and onwards to a better future.’
If you wish to contribute to the Lingers fighting fund, which at the time of writing has reached 88% of it’s total amount needed, you can do so below:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lingfield-footballclub