WORK will kick-off on Biggleswade Town s new football ground in the New Year. It brings an end to a 10-year search to find a new home for one of the oldest football clubs in the country having been formed in 1874. Work costing over £750,000 will start on

WORK will kick-off on Biggleswade Town's new football ground in the New Year.

It brings an end to a 10-year search to find a new home for one of the oldest football clubs in the country having been formed in 1874.

Work costing over £750,000 will start on January 3 on the ground which occupies almost 12 acres of land at the junction of Langford Road and Hitchin Road close to the bypass flyover.

The project includes a two storey clubhouse with a dining room for 200 people, changing rooms and gymnasium, a stand with 350 seats under cover and a further 100 covered standing places, two private 12-seater boxes as well as floodlights.

Funding for the project comes from the Football Foundation (£200,000), with another £200,000 coming from a major sponsor who has yet to be revealed and the remainder from chairman and Steeple Morden resident Maurice Dorrington.

The City of London accountant has been at the helm of the club for 16 years and has always been determined to give the club a ground they can be proud of after many years at Fairfield Road sports ground, close to Biggleswade United's home ground.

They vacated the ground at the end of last season when it became clear they could not build facilities there and eventually found the current site with help from Biggleswade Town Council.

This season the club have been ground sharing with Bedford Valerio Utd and are currently anchored at the base of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

"It has been too long in coming. We've wanted our own ground for years and next season we will have it," said Mr Dorrington, 56.

"This season we have been a gypsy club, never playing our games in our home town.

"The new ground will have superb facilities which will be at least Conference South or Ryman Premier Division standard. We have now got to make sure we get a good team so we can bring a better standard of football to the town.

"We have got a tremendous spirit within the club to do better and this new ground, which will be completed by next summer, will be a great foundation for future football in Biggleswade."

Mr Dorrington said the club was well supported in the 1950s and 1960s and the ground record of 2,500 was achieved in 1904 when they were beaten 7-1 in the FA Cup by Watford. They also reached the fourth round of the competition in 1908.

"It has been a very long road but we are nearly at our goal of having our own home," added Mr Dorrington.

"This is a big opportunity to build a great football club in the town.