Hucknall Town ground move could happen as early as 2022

Hucknall Town's move away from Watnall Road could happen as early as next year according to officials at the club.

The Yellows will move to a newly built ground on Aerial Way once a deal to buy the land that their current ground sits on has been completed. This is looking more likely now that supermarket chain Lidl are close to purchasing the site.

Paul Burley, who is responsible for youth football and all media communication at Hucknall Town Football Club said: "There's been a potential ground move for Hucknall Town on the cards for many years now. I think we're at a position now where this is the most optimistic position that the club's been in, in a sense that there is an interested party for the Watnall Road site in Lidl. And subject to one or two conditions, Ashfield District Council have approved that planning in principle. We are hoping that Lidl will put pen to paper possibly over the next three months."

If this does happen, there is a chance that the upcoming campaign will be Town's last at Watnall Road.

"It is all dependent upon Lidl even though the planning permission's been granted, subject to one or two conditions, it is always subject to Lidl purchasing that land. It's the timing of that that will dictate when the club will move.

"I suppose in an ideal world if things are signed up and all agreed over the next three months, I would have thought there is a good chance that a move for Hucknall Town could take place in the close season after this season."

The club have endured a frustrating couple of years since achieving promotion back to step six of the football pyramid. Both of their seasons in the East Midlands Counties Football League have ended up being declared null and void due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

In the season just gone, the club only managed to play nine competitive league games before the season was curtailed. More frustratingly, six wins from those nine games suggested a promotion challenge would have been realistic if the season had been allowed to run its course.

However, despite the interrupted fixture schedule this hasn't stopped a sense of excitement from surrounding the club.

"I think in terms of what's the mood, I think it's cautious optimism and I think there will be very much excitement if, as we hope, there's a deal struck with Lidl and obviously the people that own the land. Then I think that will be very exciting for everybody involved at Hucknall Town and all the supporters and everybody that comes to watch because it'll be a new ground with new facilities, and a new clubhouse."

The new ground has two pitches which will mean that as well as providing the first team somewhere to play and train, it will serve the reserve and youth sides connected with the football club.

Following a restructure by the Football Association, Hucknall Town will remain at Step 6 but play in the renamed United Counties League One for the forthcoming 2021/22 season which is due to begin in August.