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The seed which
produced Arnold Town Football Club has existed since the early 1900's.
The earliest photograph of a team from Arnold was taken in 1908.
Indeed, a team photograph of an Arnold ladies team taken in 1922
is thought to be one of the oldest photographs of a ladies team in
existence.
The Club has been
renamed on several occasions.
Firstly called White Star, the name was soon changed to Arnold St Marys
and then in 1964 the name changed again to Arnold Football Club.
Following an amalgamation with Arnold Kingswell,
the Club adopted its present title in 1988.
Many famous faces have
played for the Eagle's over the years. Most recently, the Club hit the
headlines when they sold young striker Ben Hutchinson to Premiership
side Middlesbrough in a deal reputed to be worth around �100,000.
Gedling Road was once graced by Geoff Hurst in 1977 playing for Telford
United in an F.A.Cup preliminary round.
Since 1954,
then known as Arnold St.Mary's, the Club played their football at
the King George V Recreation Ground in
the heart of the
north-eastern Nottingham suburb of Arnold. Local ale producer,
Home Brewery, owned the majority of the land and generously handed it
over to the people of Arnold to use for sport and
recreational purposes.
However, this notable gesture was not mentioned in the deed of
conveyance and was subsequently challenged by the Charities Commission
in 1999 following a single complaint by a local resident that they could
not access the land to walk their dog on a Saturday afternoon.
Consequently, moves were made to expel Arnold from their home. This
oversight by the now extinct Home Brewery has led to a fight to ensure
another of Arnold's treasures does not go the same way. In 2004,
Arnold survived a stay of execution whilst they attempted to find
another home, but in April 2008, the curtain finally came down on
Gedling Road.
Since the Charities Commission ruling in 1999, the Club looked at
numerous possibilities in an effort to identify a suitable alternative
for the Club could thrive. Bestwood Lodge, Arno Vale Road & Killsick
were all examined. Additionally, ground sharing with Carlton Town &
Notts County were both been sited, but none of these options was deemed
realistically viable.
Step forward Eagle Valley.
At the beginning of the 2004/05 season,
the choice was simple for Arnold Town, move or die. Things really
were that desperate.
Fortunately, after several years of
waiting, Arnold have finally received the necessary funding from The
Football Foundation to safeguard their future - the gloriously named
Eagle Valley.
Located on arable farmland at the
junction of the A614 Ollerton Road & B6386 Oxton Road, at some two and a
half miles away from Arnold Town Centre, it is not an ideal location,
but the initial plans could certainly be described as idyllic. Set in
undulating countryside, the intention is for Eagle Valley to blend into
its splendid natural surroundings. The development incorporates a
number of pitches to ensure that the 300+ players for Arnold Town,
Arnold Boys and Arnold Veterans continue to prosper.
In line with Northern Premier League
requirements, the new Ground will have parking for a visiting team bus,
directors and match officials. There will also be parking for 70 cars,
with grass mouldings angled around the car park to maintain the
tranquility of the area. Local public transport arrangements will be
improved, including a bus running from the old ground, with discount
offered on your match day ticket on production of your bus ticket.
Careful consideration has been given to the floodlight luminaries.
Whilst ensuring that the Club meet the minimum requirement of 200 lux,
they intend to reduce the visible column height to reduce floodlight
spillage. The Club have also considered the impact on local noise levels
with dense mesh fencing panels used instead of using standard rebound
boards. It is also the intention that other sports are played at the
venue in partnership with a local school. The project is estimated to
have cost in the region of �1.4m, with the majority of the funding
coming from the Football Foundation.
To help raise funds for the new stadium, the Club is to install a 'Rock
of Arnold' at the new Eagle Valley. The Rock will have 1000 names
engraved. In return for your donation of �25, your name will be forever
inscribed on the Rock of Arnold.
A single story pavilion is located
towards the centre of the site, . A proposed stand, with a capacity of
750 would include 250 seats will be largely screened by the Pavilion to
ensure it fits in with the surroundings. The intention is for a concrete
free zone, with natural timber being the order of the day.
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From M1 - Depart at Jnc.26 and continue on A610
until you reach the ringroad (A6514). Turn left onto the dual
carriageway for Mansfield A60. After 2.5 miles you will reach the A60.
Turn left towards Mansfield and continue until you reach a roundabout.
Take the second exit onto the A614 Ollerton Road. After 1 mile, turn
right onto Oxton Road, and the entrance to the ground is immediately on
your RHS.
There
are no present bus services serving Eagle Valley, but this is to be
addressed for matchdays.
Hucknall - 5 miles