staines wipe
Brentford to re-open abandoned stadium previously used by Chelsea that was left to rot after non-league club dissolved
A dispute between the landlord and a non-league side saw the stadium shut in 2022
BRENTFORD have announced the re-opening of Wheatsheaf Park stadium for their reserve teams.
Wheatsheaf Park was home to Chelsea's women team between 2012 and 2017.
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The stadium was also formerly the home of Staines Town from 1951 before the club dissolved in 2022.
The former eighth-tier club suspended all activity under former owner and chairman Joe Dixon following a dispute with landlord Downing LLP.
The club saw their website and social media pages removed, all but ending 130 years of history.
The ground, located in Staines-upon-Thames in Middlesex, has a capacity of around 3,000.
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Everything of value at the ground had been stripped away, with even one of the goal posts being broken before Brentford took it under their wing.
Brentford's announcement revealed they had engaged in "productive discussions" with the owners of the site to allow them to play fixtures at the sight with immediate effect.
It is also said there was an "agreement with representatives from Staines Town FC to offer support with local community football initiatives with the help of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust".
Brentford B and Brentford Under-18s will play their fixtures at the ground from October 31.
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The first game at the ground will see Brentford B take on Strasbourg Under-21s in a 7pm kick-off at the ground.
There is even potential for Brentford's women's teams to play at the stadium in the future.
On the ground takeover, Brentford chief executive Jon Varney said: "This represents a great opportunity to have a new home and build the fanbase for our younger teams.
"This will also allow us to further integrate with the local community and bring affordable football to Wheatsheaf Park...
"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."
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