Blues stadium could be ready in 2014

7:30am Tuesday 13th November 2012 in Local News

SOUTHEND United say it hopes its new stadium will be built and complete in 2014.

The Echo can reveal the 14,700 seat stadium at Fossetts Farm can be ready in under two years, according to the club.

However devoted fans remain sceptical after years of broken promises.

SUFC together with Sainsbury’s issued a statement which is the most clear indication of a timescale than has been announced for a couple of years.

Originally the plan was for the stadium to be ready for the 2010 season and then more definitive plans suggested a finish date for the 2013/14 season.

Set backs, financial difficulties and problems securing properties at Roots Hall for a new Sainsbury’s supermarket to enable the stadium building works have all contributed to the delays.

SUFC and Sainsbury’s said in a joint statement: “Work on the new store is continuing behind the scenes to secure the necessary technical approvals from Southend Council. At the same time we are progressing the contracts and programming of the project.

“We hope we have all necessary approvals in the very near future which would enable us to complete the stadium in 2014.”

Fans are pleased by the news but describe themselves as cautiously optimistic.

As recently as last summer (2011) the Blues said work could start in October 2011 and then again this January.

Ken Jarvis, from fan site Shrimperzone, said: “It’s positive news but unfortunately we have been here before - we’ve been given various dates in the past and work hasn’t happened.

“Speaking to fans we’d prefer to see a spade go in the ground then we’d really have reason to celebrate.”

He added fans are all behind the new stadium but feel let down previously and are keen to see action.

Ken said: ”It’s been such a long time coming. We feel before now why bother saying things will happen if it’s not going to happen, so this time we are cautiously optimistic.”

The stadium will eventually have 22,000 seats.

Comments (24)

8:11am Tue 13 Nov 12

pudsey says...

Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014.
Remember I said it.
Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014. Remember I said it. pudsey

8:21am Tue 13 Nov 12

Leighdweller says...

Seeing this is effectively a joint statement between the club and Sainsburys, I feel this has some credibility. Were it just a statement from Ron Martin, I would be less inclined to believe it. Sainsburys aren't going to put out misleading statements like this, they're too professional and organised.
Seeing this is effectively a joint statement between the club and Sainsburys, I feel this has some credibility. Were it just a statement from Ron Martin, I would be less inclined to believe it. Sainsburys aren't going to put out misleading statements like this, they're too professional and organised. Leighdweller

8:32am Tue 13 Nov 12

j-w says...

HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HAHA Stop it ha haha hahahahaha
HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HAHA Stop it ha haha hahahahaha j-w

8:37am Tue 13 Nov 12

SARFENDMAN says...

Believing is seeing the JCBs at Fossetts not continual drip, drip messages in the media.
Believing is seeing the JCBs at Fossetts not continual drip, drip messages in the media. SARFENDMAN

8:51am Tue 13 Nov 12

southendshrimper says...

it's not April 1st is it?
I will belive it when it starts & more importantly when its FINISHED!!!!!!
Up the Shrimpers
it's not April 1st is it? I will belive it when it starts & more importantly when its FINISHED!!!!!! Up the Shrimpers southendshrimper

11:12am Tue 13 Nov 12

bongking says...

It does not matter what comments are made, one way or another it will be built!!
we have waited all this time, it will not matter if takes a bit longer, the team are still playing football, and hopefully we will go up, and play in this new stadium, people need to stop moaning!!!
It does not matter what comments are made, one way or another it will be built!! we have waited all this time, it will not matter if takes a bit longer, the team are still playing football, and hopefully we will go up, and play in this new stadium, people need to stop moaning!!! bongking

11:13am Tue 13 Nov 12

Eric Whim says...

it's going to be on that island at the end of the pier, next to the airport
it's going to be on that island at the end of the pier, next to the airport Eric Whim

1:20pm Tue 13 Nov 12

JoeBlogs2 says...

Attn Ronny Martin

Let’s not give the Farmhands up the A12 the opportunity to poke fun at us from their Community Care Stadium

Please make sure we build 4 sides.
Attn Ronny Martin Let’s not give the Farmhands up the A12 the opportunity to poke fun at us from their Community Care Stadium Please make sure we build 4 sides. JoeBlogs2

1:20pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Nebs says...

Blues stadium could be ready in 2014.
More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman.
Blues stadium could be ready in 2014. More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman. Nebs

2:29pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Max Impact says...

Nebs wrote:
Blues stadium could be ready in 2014.
More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman.
HeHe

Thats funny and might just happen when jayman reads this!

it is funny isn't it Jayman...
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: Blues stadium could be ready in 2014. More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman.[/p][/quote]HeHe Thats funny and might just happen when jayman reads this! it is funny isn't it Jayman... Max Impact

2:34pm Tue 13 Nov 12

sosad 1 says...

if the stadiam opens in 2014 iwill run naked down the high street with a lump of celery up my bum you read it here "celery celery"nite nite
if the stadiam opens in 2014 iwill run naked down the high street with a lump of celery up my bum you read it here "celery celery"nite nite sosad 1

2:41pm Tue 13 Nov 12

perini says...

I don't really expect there to be a Southend United by then - RM will have asset stript it and be long gone!
I don't really expect there to be a Southend United by then - RM will have asset stript it and be long gone! perini

4:20pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Keptquiettillnow says...

j-w wrote:
HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HAHA Stop it ha haha hahahahaha
April the 1st came early this year hahahahah
[quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HAHA Stop it ha haha hahahahaha[/p][/quote]April the 1st came early this year hahahahah Keptquiettillnow

6:41pm Tue 13 Nov 12

southendshrimper says...

Max Impact wrote:
Nebs wrote: Blues stadium could be ready in 2014. More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman.
HeHe Thats funny and might just happen when jayman reads this! it is funny isn't it Jayman...
I have more of a chance to winning the lottery.

Sorry Max but its true.
[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: Blues stadium could be ready in 2014. More chance of Max Impact agreeing with Jayman.[/p][/quote]HeHe Thats funny and might just happen when jayman reads this! it is funny isn't it Jayman...[/p][/quote]I have more of a chance to winning the lottery. Sorry Max but its true. southendshrimper

6:51pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Seasider90 says...

As its Sainsburys that have stated this there must be more credibility in it. We need 4 sides to the stadium - Oxfords ground is rubbish with 3 sides - no atmosphere and it looks odd.
As its Sainsburys that have stated this there must be more credibility in it. We need 4 sides to the stadium - Oxfords ground is rubbish with 3 sides - no atmosphere and it looks odd. Seasider90

7:29pm Tue 13 Nov 12

SUFC1906 says...

A joint statement but read between the lines the parts that seem to refer to each party's aims. "Work on the new store is continuing behind the scenes to secure the necessary technical approvals from Southend Council". That is likely to be the Sainsbury part of the statement. "We hope we have all the necessary approvals in the very near future to enable us to complete the stadium in 2014". That is likely to be the club's part of the statement. Key word is "hope" in relation to any stadium. The Sainsbury's store part of the statement seems not to need to rely on hope. Must be costing a fortune for endless renewals of planning applications & red tape. A more likely outcome is a store at Roots Hall with either club closure or a few years groundsharing somewhere waiting for something to turn up like RM winning the lottery.
A joint statement but read between the lines the parts that seem to refer to each party's aims. "Work on the new store is continuing behind the scenes to secure the necessary technical approvals from Southend Council". That is likely to be the Sainsbury part of the statement. "We hope we have all the necessary approvals in the very near future to enable us to complete the stadium in 2014". That is likely to be the club's part of the statement. Key word is "hope" in relation to any stadium. The Sainsbury's store part of the statement seems not to need to rely on hope. Must be costing a fortune for endless renewals of planning applications & red tape. A more likely outcome is a store at Roots Hall with either club closure or a few years groundsharing somewhere waiting for something to turn up like RM winning the lottery. SUFC1906

10:36pm Tue 13 Nov 12

holman says...

Can anybody explain why they are planning to have so many seats ?
Can anybody explain why they are planning to have so many seats ? holman

9:02am Wed 14 Nov 12

Chap says...

I'd be surprised if they have even STARTED building it by 2014, let alone completed it.
I'd be surprised if they have even STARTED building it by 2014, let alone completed it. Chap

11:11am Wed 14 Nov 12

bongking says...

there is an agreement with sainsburys that it has to be built by then 2014, or you can forget the stadium!, but the supermarket will go ahead, so i think with all these negitive comments, they might think its not worth building it after all'!!!
there is an agreement with sainsburys that it has to be built by then 2014, or you can forget the stadium!, but the supermarket will go ahead, so i think with all these negitive comments, they might think its not worth building it after all'!!! bongking

1:00pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Southend Andy says...

It will be great to have a new stadium, but needs to be four sides even if they don't put seats in. Why not make one side standing?
It will be great to have a new stadium, but needs to be four sides even if they don't put seats in. Why not make one side standing? Southend Andy

12:07am Thu 15 Nov 12

Southend65 says...

Remember the Field of Dreams tagline... "If you build it, he will come".

Then he will realise that the quality of football is rubbish and drive down the local B&Q instead.
Remember the Field of Dreams tagline... "If you build it, he will come". Then he will realise that the quality of football is rubbish and drive down the local B&Q instead. Southend65

4:00pm Fri 23 Nov 12

bongking says...

i think southend council is going to take over the stadium and it will be called the community stadium number 2, another sh-t hole!!
i think southend council is going to take over the stadium and it will be called the community stadium number 2, another sh-t hole!! bongking

7:54pm Wed 5 Dec 12

supershrimper says...

pudsey wrote:
Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014.
Remember I said it.
Agreed. It said in the article the first plan was 2010, but on the 2005/6 season review, Martin said it will be ready for Kevin Maher's testimonial in 2008. Why do we need a bigger stadium anyway? We rarely fill half of what we have already.
[quote][p][bold]pudsey[/bold] wrote: Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014. Remember I said it.[/p][/quote]Agreed. It said in the article the first plan was 2010, but on the 2005/6 season review, Martin said it will be ready for Kevin Maher's testimonial in 2008. Why do we need a bigger stadium anyway? We rarely fill half of what we have already. supershrimper

7:58pm Wed 5 Dec 12

supershrimper says...

pudsey wrote:
Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014.
Remember I said it.
Agreed. It said in the article the first plan was 2010, but on the 2005/6 season review, Martin said it will be ready for Kevin Maher's testimonial in 2008. Why do we need a bigger stadium anyway? We rarely fill half of what we have already.
[quote][p][bold]pudsey[/bold] wrote: Make a note of the date. The Stadium will not be ready in 2014. Remember I said it.[/p][/quote]Agreed. It said in the article the first plan was 2010, but on the 2005/6 season review, Martin said it will be ready for Kevin Maher's testimonial in 2008. Why do we need a bigger stadium anyway? We rarely fill half of what we have already. supershrimper

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