Progress at Raynes Park Vale and Sheerwater

The League’s Inspection Sub-Committee have been continuing their programme of ground inspections with recent visits to both Raynes Park Vale and Sheerwater.

Until they achieve floodlights Sheerwater cannot be recommended for Grade G, and thus remain ungraded. However, in accordance with current FA policy they have until 31 March 2018 to light up. There were various other bits and pieces that needed attention and the Inspection Committee was pleased to see that all the work identified on a previous visit had been carried out. This includes the provision of new dug outs that meet the required size, an extension of the hard standing, improved security for the gateman, and for the players and match officials when they enter the field of play.

At Raynes Park Vale, the problems are different in that whilst the club possess the basic requirements for Grade F as required in the Premier Division, the ground had looked tired and neglected on a previous visit, to the extent that there was a genuine threat to the club’s grading, which would have seen them relegated at the end of the season. However, largely thanks to the efforts of assistant manager Paul Bentley and others, the ground has been the recipient of considerable TLC in recent weeks with a huge tidy-up having taken place. This has included work on the stand to make it more secure, in particular the steps to the higher levels and removal of a huge amount of overgrown vegetation. There is still plenty to be done but thanks to Paul, there is an ongoing programme of works, and the threat of an immediate recommendation to the FA’s Technical Panel that the current grading be removed, has been lifted. It is very important that the Club maintains this ongoing programme but it is right to acknowledge the considerable amount of work that has been done between the two most recent visits.