Ollerton Football and Ollerton Rugby clubs unite for redevelopment of Walesby Road ground

Two sporting clubs have united to work towards the further development of a sports ground.

Ollerton’s football and rugby clubs have agreed to work together for the future of the Walesby Lane ground.

It was announced earlier this season that the football club ­— the current tenants of the ground ­— had secured a 25-year lease of the facility, with a newly-formed Comm-unity Benefit Society overseeing its development.

However, it soon became clear that to fully maximise the potential of the site, a multi-sports focus would be necessary and so the rugby club was invited on board.

The two clubs will now pool their resources to help the fundraising effort

Walesby Lane now hosts the rugby club’s youth training sessions in midweek and rugby ­— currently played at Boughton Village Hall ­— could be played there in in the future.

While the sports society will oversee the development and maintenance of the Walesby Lane facilities, the two clubs will remain in charge of their respective day-to-day affairs.

The Community Benefit Society will be known as the Ollerton Town Community Sports Society.

Both clubs will maintain their current identities, meaning the football club will now stay as simply Ollerton Town FC.

An Ollerton Town spokesman said: “Bringing the town’s two main sports teams under one roof will be a huge boost to the area, but also greatly improve fundraising efforts.

“It shall open up the new facility to more people in Ollerton and the wider area, which should create a real community hub in the heart of the village.”

“Over the past few months, things have been progressing quietly behind the scenes in regards to the development of Walesby Lane.

“While there is still some way to go until building work will start, the hope is that news of initial plans for the site will be released over the coming weeks.

“The fundraising process has also begun and news on that may come in the near future.”

Membership of Ollerton Town Community Sports Society costs £1 and gives a say in the future of the Walesby Lane site.

More information on the scheme is available on the clubs’ websites.