National League North club Marine AFC has unveiled plans for a new stadium it claims will be one of the biggest community benefit projects in the North West of England, with a crowdfunding campaign launched to support the venture.
The 5,000-capacity stadium, developed in conjunction and with support from Bellway Homes and land-owner Craig Sneddon, will include a Community Hub, classrooms, gymnasium, 3G pitch and Health & Wellbeing Hub including provision for a doctors, dentist and mental health nurse.
A 20-bedroom accommodation will also be incorporated into the main stand. Marine’s home since 1904, Marine Travel Arena, will be retained as a Community Hub, with the club claiming up to 100 jobs will be created from the project.
Marine famously hosted Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round back in 2021. The match was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, but was still a revenue earner for Marine as 32,202 virtual tickets were sold.
Since then, Marine, which is based in Crosby, Merseyside, has progressed with two promotions and an increase in attendances from 350 to an average of 1,400. Marine In The Community, which launched in 2019, has grown significantly and is now actively supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of thousands of people locally.
Marine FC CEO, James Leary, said: “It was our aim to find a site within L23 that could become our new long-term home. I am delighted that we have made it this far in our aim to safeguard the future of Marine Football Club for the next 100-plus years and create a project that will become a huge community asset.
“Our aim is to retain and improve our support from the Crosby/Waterloo/Thornton triangle whilst growing our supporter base from the surrounding areas of Formby, Maghull, Aintree and Netherton. With that, the expansion of Marine In The Community to these wider areas will also further improve the community impact.
“The work to making this a reality though is far from complete and it will need to be a huge effort from everybody to ensure we can raise the funds to make it happen. I would like to thank Bellway Homes for their support and contribution so far.”
The stadium, designed by Crosby-based architects Diaz Associates, would be delivered in partnership with property company Bellway Homes as part of a wider 30-acre development. The Liverpool Echo said Marine has acquired 8.32 acres for £1 (€1.20/$1.25) to allow for the construction of the stadium.
Bellway intends to build 250 homes on the remaining 22 acres and will invest £2.5m towards the overall £8m needed for the stadium. A full planning application is expected to be submitted later this year, with the goal of construction starting in 2027.
Leary said the club still needs to raise a “huge seven-figure sum” and has called for investors in the project, deemed to be the most ambitious in Marine’s 130-year history. With this in mind, a crowdfunder has been set up to assist in the fundraising efforts. A £500,000 target has been set, with the campaign standing at £1,990 as of 1:30pm GMT today (Wednesday).
Leary added: “If anyone can donate to support the project it will be a massive boost. If we can’t raise the funds the project will not happen.”
