The end of our slippery slope!

Non-League football’s most profound sloping pitch will soon be consigned to the history books.

Chard Town were forced to leave National League System membership in 2019 despite finishing seventh in the Western League Division One. This was because the 12 foot gradient on their Zembard Lane playing surface no longer met requirements for Step 6 football.

Now, while playing in Somerset County League circles, Chard have unveiled plans for a new stadium – complete with the desired flat pitch! I visited them towards the end of last season to find out more.

In effect, I decided to keep an open mind when inspecting the problematic Zembard Lane incline. After all, I had witnessed exciting matches in the past at the now demolished original sloping arenas of Barnet, Wycombe Wanderers and Yeovil Town.

I entered Chard Town behind the top goal and couldn’t really see what the problem was. But once I walked down to the bottom end, it was like peering up the north face of the Eiger!

A slight exaggeration perhaps although the slope at Zembard Lane is definitely the biggest I have seen in all my football travels.

Nevertheless, Chard Town were happy playing there from joining the Western League in 1976 until expulsion seven years ago.

Accordingly, I chatted to Ryan Parris who is the club committee member overseeing the stadium move as project lead. He exuded a tinge of sadness in discussing Zembard Lane.

“I think we’ve played at our beloved home venue for 102 years in total,” said Parris. “Therefore it is a bitter-sweet situation. Anyway we still have a little way to go before we depart. At least another three seasons so a few more Zembard Lane memories can be made.

“Essentially, we left the Western League after falling foul of grading rules – in particular regarding the slope. I believe grounds are allowed one metre down for every 41 across. However, at Chard it is one metre down for every 25 across. We were fine with all the other stipulations but the pitch was something we just couldn’t do anything about.”

Looking to the future, Chard Town’s new stadium is very much on the horizon. And this involves a significant community aspect.

PICTURE: Bailey Partnership LLP

Parris said: “We are relocating to the north edge of Chard in an area known as Mount Hindrance. It is a 20-minute walk from the town centre.

“The scheme is part of a development of houses by Taylor Wimpey and has three football pitches incorporated – two will be for community use and one for Chard Town. The aim is to have one main complex containing the club’s amenities plus community changing rooms. Spectator provision will be up to Step 6 standard. Crucially, we will have a flat pitch and there won’t be a slope anymore!

False hopes

“We are funding our section through the sale of Zembard Lane. We await a portion of that from the landlords. Then we will seek Football Foundation and Sport England funds. We are registered for those but we can’t start applying until we get the land transferred to us and the equity released from our current ground.

“Even so, with a fair wind we could be playing football at the new site in three years’ time.” I wondered what the future might hold on the field for a slope-less Chard Town. They can certainly regain their place in the National League System, according to Parris.

He said: “We’ll have increased income coming in from the modern clubhouse and bar facilities at the new ground. We’ve also been asked to manage the community area so it becomes a fresh revenue stream for the club in hiring out the pitches and maintaining them for the council and the developer.

“For us, it is a chance to restore parity by returning to the National League System. We always yo-yoed between Step 5 and Step 6 of the Western League historically while operating really well.

COMMUNITY HUB: An artist’s impression of how Chard Town’s new stadium will look

OLD SCHOOL: The old dugout and terracing at Chard’s Zembard Lane

“In addition, we will enjoy the opportunity of appearing in national FA competitions again. For instance, we haven’t featured in the FA Cup for 13 years. Furthermore, we can expand our youth teams and enhance community reach due to the extra pitches being available.

“Overall, everyone at Chard Town is extremely positive since the club has actually been active in trying to move for maybe 30 years. We endured many false hopes along the way which didn’t come to fruition including losing the original planning permission when South Somerset Council was dissolved.

“So there’s a little bit of relief that it’s finally happening and the club won’t carry on regressing. The feeling amongst everybody here is overwhelmingly supportive.”