Years of ground sharing could finally come to an end this evening when Wokingham & Emmbrook’s planning application for Lowther Road is up for debate.
The Satsumas’ base at Lowther Road in the Emmbrook area of Wokingham is only suitable in its current state for football up to step 6 of the English Football pyramid – the clubs current senior footballing level.
Wokingham were able to spend the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons at their own ground after taking voluntary relegation to Division 1 East of the Hellenic Football League, but the promotion in 2015 meant they were back on the road, this time sharing at Henley Town after sharing with Egham Town, Flackwell Heath, Windsor & Eton and Bracknell Town since leaving their original Finchampstead Road ground.
What’s being applied for?
We had a quick chat with first team boss Clive McNelly this morning and he outlined the planning application very briefly. In short the Sumas are looking to install floodlights, a covered stand and hard standing around the pitch.
If permission is granted for the upgrades to the Lowther Road ground, then should Wokingham make an instant return to the Premier Division at the end of the coming season they will be able to play out of their own ground.
The reality would be football returning permanently to the Town of Wokingham for the first time since Wokingham Town left Finchampstead Road in 1999.
All here at FootballinBracknell wish the Sumas the best of luck at the meeting this evening, which starts at 7pm.
Update.. and the decision was?