Wheatsheaf Park, the former home of non-league football club Staines Town, is set to reopen as the home of Brentford’s B team and U18 side.
The Premier League club has announced that it will begin using the stadium from October 31. There is also potential for Brentford’s women’s team to play at the stadium in the future.
The announcement has been made following discussions between Brentford and the Thames Club, which owns Wheatsheaf Park. Brentford also holds an agreement with representatives from Staines Town to offer support with local community football initiatives with the help of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.
Brentford has also engaged with the community around Wheatsheaf Park and offered local residents the chance to visit the stadium and ask questions regarding its work on the site and future fixtures.
Wheatsheaf Park has been without a main tenant since Staines Town was disbanded last year. In recent months, the site has been upgraded with a new playing surface, while enhancements have been made to the changing and supporter facilities.
The first official match at the new-look venue will be next Tuesday when Brentford B hosts RC Strasbourg’s U21 team. Wheatsheaf Park will sell official Brentford merchandise on match days, with the club hoping the stadium can become a regular home for supporters to watch its young players develop.
Brentford chief executive Jon Varney said: “This represents a great opportunity to have a new home and build the fan base for our younger teams. This will also allow us to further integrate with the local community and bring affordable football to Wheatsheaf Park.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Thames Club and we thank them, as well as those linked with Staines Town FC, for their support in bringing this project to life. We now look forward to watching our young players continue their development on the pitch in what is a brilliant facility embedded within a community which values its football, as we hope to become a real asset to the local area.”
