Reds agree two-year groundshare deal with Arlesey Town

The Reds’ 4-0 victory over local rivals Codicote on April 15 in their final league match of the 2016-17 season brought to an end a two-year stint at Stotfold’s Roker Park ground.

They finished third on 92 points in SSML Division One this year, just one point behind Harpenden Town in the second promotion place following Harps’ 1-1 draw with Brimsdown on Saturday.

Baldock were denied promotion to the Spartan League in 2012 as their home ground, the Arena on Norton Road, was not suitable for SSML football.

They went up the following year after they had agreed a groundshare at Hitchin Town’s Top Field.

They then moved on to share SSML Premier Division side Stotfold’s ground in 2015 until the end of the current campaign.

Looking to the future, chairman Graham Kingham said: “With the club aiming to progress through the leagues in the coming years, it was felt that the facilities offered at Arlesey Town would best suit our mid-term ambitions.

“We do however still intend on bringing the club back to a new facility in Baldock at the earliest opportunity and to this end, will be submitting plans to the local Council in due course.

“I do hope that all our supporters will embrace this move and show their support at as many games as possible going forward.

“Finally I would like to thank Stotfold FC for their hospitality over the last two years and in particular Mo who looked after the lads so well on match days - they will all miss her next season.”

Arlesey Town play in the Southern Division One Central league, two steps up from Baldock Town, and finished 15th this season.

Arlesey Town’s committee released a statement saying: “We hope this association will be beneficial to both clubs in the long term and we ask the supporters of Arlesey to support this new venture and take our new house guests into our club and support them in the years to come whilst the first team are away.”