Gilliver's Travels
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I trust you all saw this on the official site earlier...
Council Leader Backs Falmer
Albion's bid for a new stadium at Falmer received a welcome boost last weekend from one enthusiastic Liberal Democrat council leader.
Steve Galloway, who leads City of York Council, was speaking in Lewes just before Darlington’s FA Cup clash with the Rooks. Like many committed football fans up and down the country, Steve has followed the Albion's quest for Falmer closely. As a lifelong Darlington supporter, he knows what it's like to live with the ups and downs of a club in the lower reaches of the Football League. But having spearheaded his City Council’s initiative to find a new home for York City Football Club, Steve is uniquely able to appreciate the Albion's plight from both sides.
The situation in York is very different from that in Sussex, as Steve confirms: "Although York City have been in difficulties on and off the pitch in recent times, we've never lost sight of the Football Club's importance to the people of our City. That's why we've made a point of working with the Club's board to find a solution to their stadium problem that's acceptable to all parties. As a result, the relationship between Club and Council is healthy and strong. We've found that a supportive, collaborative approach has taken us much further than one built on mutual suspicion or outright hostility.
"I know that my colleagues in York would be tackling the Albion's stadium problem very differently, were Falmer within our area. We have always regarded the existence of a thriving, secure football club as a precious asset for any modern British city. We'd hope our LibDem counterparts in Sussex can similarly recognise how important the new stadium at Falmer will be, both for Albion fans and the wider community.”
Albion chief executive, Martin Perry, said:
“We have said so many times that the development at Falmer will bring benefits not just to the people of Brighton but to the whole of Sussex including Lewes. Here is somebody who has really appreciated the benefits that we can bring. It is such a tragedy that Lewes District Council now seem to have a bee in their bonnet that they just cannot let go. Let’s hope that when this final stage of the process is over they will come to realise that by working with the Club instead of against us they can ensure that the people of Lewes maximise on the opportunities and benefits that the development will give them.”
Council Leader Backs Falmer
Albion's bid for a new stadium at Falmer received a welcome boost last weekend from one enthusiastic Liberal Democrat council leader.
Steve Galloway, who leads City of York Council, was speaking in Lewes just before Darlington’s FA Cup clash with the Rooks. Like many committed football fans up and down the country, Steve has followed the Albion's quest for Falmer closely. As a lifelong Darlington supporter, he knows what it's like to live with the ups and downs of a club in the lower reaches of the Football League. But having spearheaded his City Council’s initiative to find a new home for York City Football Club, Steve is uniquely able to appreciate the Albion's plight from both sides.
The situation in York is very different from that in Sussex, as Steve confirms: "Although York City have been in difficulties on and off the pitch in recent times, we've never lost sight of the Football Club's importance to the people of our City. That's why we've made a point of working with the Club's board to find a solution to their stadium problem that's acceptable to all parties. As a result, the relationship between Club and Council is healthy and strong. We've found that a supportive, collaborative approach has taken us much further than one built on mutual suspicion or outright hostility.
"I know that my colleagues in York would be tackling the Albion's stadium problem very differently, were Falmer within our area. We have always regarded the existence of a thriving, secure football club as a precious asset for any modern British city. We'd hope our LibDem counterparts in Sussex can similarly recognise how important the new stadium at Falmer will be, both for Albion fans and the wider community.”
Albion chief executive, Martin Perry, said:
“We have said so many times that the development at Falmer will bring benefits not just to the people of Brighton but to the whole of Sussex including Lewes. Here is somebody who has really appreciated the benefits that we can bring. It is such a tragedy that Lewes District Council now seem to have a bee in their bonnet that they just cannot let go. Let’s hope that when this final stage of the process is over they will come to realise that by working with the Club instead of against us they can ensure that the people of Lewes maximise on the opportunities and benefits that the development will give them.”
