Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has intervened to help resolve the future of Wealdstone FC at its Grosvenor Vale home in Ruislip.
The football club has been in discussions with its landlords, KSMIC of London, for some time about securing a long-term lease at the site. Johnson, who represents the Uxbridge and South Ruislip Constituency where the club is based, met with representatives from both parties to try and break the deadlock and find a way forward.
Wealdstone FC has been based at the Grosvenor Vale Stadium for the past 15 years after being football nomads for over 20 years. The club sold their Lower Mead Ground in Harrow in the early 1990s and has been in search of a permanent home ever since. Despite facing financial challenges and being a part-time team, Wealdstone FC has made it to the National League and finished 13th in the league this season, having spent much of the season within the playoff places.
Darren Linden, Engagement and Community Director at Wealdstone FC, said, “Realistically if we’re going to continue to compete at this level and invest in the infrastructure that will allow us to progress into the EFL we need a long-term lease at Grosvenor Vale.” He added that while the club’s tenure at the Vale is secured for at least the next three years after a lease extension was signed in March, the short-term nature of the lease prevents the club from accessing both football and other sporting grants.
The meeting between Johnson, Wealdstone FC, and KSMIC of London was described as “constructive and positive” with plenty of ideas shared on how to work towards securing a long-term lease at the site. Johnson thanked KSMIC of London for meeting with him and the directors of Wealdstone FC and added, “The Club has an exciting future ahead after a terrific season and I am proud to be supporting their exciting plans to develop the grounds to benefit the whole community.”
Wealdstone FC is hopeful that a long-term lease at the Grosvenor Vale site will enable the club to make significant investments in the infrastructure and improve the site not just for the football club but for the entire community.
