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SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 14 May 2010 : 17:58:16

A cut above the rest.

We've had some good news today that the funding that Waddy applied for from both The Riverside Housing Trust, and the Arena Housing Trust, has been granted, and that means that we will be able to purchase a new lawn tractor and line marking equipment!

This is great news because although we've seen some reasonable deals on eBay, you can never be sure of the reliability of second hand equipment.

The first week of the Jaguar Land Rover community project came to a close today, and we can't thank the guys who have been working this week enough. They've done a fantastic job in and around the clubhouse, and it's made a real difference.

We have another set of guys next week, and they will be looking at some more internal painting, as well as some exterior work.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 16 May 2010 : 19:28:56

First Blood.

Whilst most of the activity today was pitchside with another cut, forking, and just generally giving the pitch at bit of TLC, Ste Biggy spent time drilling walls to enable electrical cable to be routed from the distribution box through to the kitchen. It was doing this that he manage to catch his elbow, causing a scratch which bled. Although his welfare was obviously at the top of the list of priorities, it didn't go unnoticed that the blood on the recently painted wall didn't come off terribly well, and so it will need to be touched up.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 19 May 2010 : 08:06:51

Floodlight Testing

Last night the floodlights were tested and you can see a few photos on the construction photo page. I wasn't around for the results of the tests, so will more than likely find out later today how it went. However, the floodlights are guaranteed for 10 years, or 5000 hours (whichever comes first), so even if there was an issue with the light levels it would get sorted out as part of the warranty.

Unfortunately, we noticed some vandalism last night. A couple of seats have been totally destroyed by fire, and there's some damage to the roof of a dugout. It's obviously very disappointing that there are some idiots who think that causing this sort of damage is acceptable behaviour, but it's not something new and there were similar problems at Canal Street. We'll just have to try and deal with it as best we can and hope that, over time, there will be a bit more respect for the facilities.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 03 Jun 2010 : 23:33:15

Latest News

Apologies for not updating the blog over the last couple of weeks, but things have been quite busy.

Lots of work has been going on at the ground on the pitch, and we've a new member of the team. A new 4WD articulated mower has been purchased, primarily funded by Arena and Riverside Housing Associations, so we are very grateful to them.

We are looking to pick up a 36" cylinder mower at the weekend too. This will give us a breadth of equipment to help prepare and maintain the pitch in the best way possible.

Our new toilet block has been delivered and plumbed in. (Picture available here). The electrical supply is nearly complete. The next steps, which will take place after grading, will be to renovate the toilet block with more toilets, and facilities for the disabled.

The hard standing will receive its final coating of tarmac shortly, and the turnstiles will be delivered and installed.

Inside the clubhouse work is still continuing with decorating and fitting out of the home dressing room.

We still have some final plumbing to sort out to get the showers fully operational to our satisfaction, but the boiler is all up and running now, and the heating is all working fine.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 08:23:45

Almost done

Again, apologies for not updating the Blog for a few weeks. As things are reaching a conclusion, there's still quite a lot of activity behind the scenes.

Since the last entry, everything has now been delivered and is in place. We now have turnstiles in place, and the surfaces have all had a top coat of tarmac. The final job there is to provide power to the turnstiles and toilets, and the facilities are pretty much ready to rock.

In the clubhouse we have had a new false ceiling fitted in the Board/Hospitality room, and have laid carpet tiles in there and in the front desk/office area. We are still deciding whether we want to go with laminate or carpet in the foyer and main function room, and until the last finishing touches are complete, we think it will be best to leave the floor bare.

We still aren't 100% happy with the showers, and have decided to go for a new system of pumps and valves to ensure that the showers are tip-top. This has incurred a little more expense, but we think it's going to save potential problems in the future, plus provide the level of facility that we hoped for.

Other areas in the clubhouse are nearly complete, with just finishing touches being put to the dressing rooms. We do have a new problem to address, and that's the drains. Water isn't running away as quickly as it might, so we are going to need to get the drains cleared before long.

Pitch-side preparations are coming along well. The club now has it's own 36" cylinder mower (which used to belong to Christopher Martin Jenkins), and Steve Ollerenshaw, who is the groundsman from the Cricket Club, is putting it to good use as he's helping us get the pitch ready for the start of the season.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 24 Jun 2010 : 15:02:50

The Select Security Stand

The first bit of sponsorship paraphernalia has been installed in the new ground. Select Security Services have signed a multi-year deal to sponsor the seated stand, and their sign has been mounted on top of the stand. You can see what it looks like here.

Alan Spendlove has done great work in marking out a no-standing area in front of the seats, so thanks to him.

The next items on the list are to make some alterations in the toilet block to ensure we have the appropriate number of male and female toilets, and we'll also be arranging to get the flooring laid (once we can come to a final decision as to what we want!).

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 19:59:54

Tick tock, tick tock...

As the deadline gets ever closer for the opening of the new ground the finishing touches are coming to an end.

The dressing rooms now have all their benches fitted and painted. The physio tables are waiting to be installed. The signage is ready to be put up, and the carpet is due to go down on Thursday.

As you can see from the picture, the Football Foundation signs have been delivered and erected around the clubhouse - we just have the pitchside board that we'll mount up for them.

The pitch is coming along well, but the lack of any real rain has been a bit of a hinderance.

Don't forget the open house on the evening of Wednesday 14th July. Trust members and club sponsors and advertisers are invited to come along to see the new facilities from 7.00pm onwards and the new ground will be open to the general public from 8.00pm until 9.00pm. Fans will be able to visit the new function room, together with the changing rooms and to take a tour of the ground. Normally most of the areas are off-limits on match-days so it's an oportunity to take a look at what's in all the back rooms.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 08 Jul 2010 : 00:00:59

Pretty much there

Today we had a visit from Geoff Wilkinson who is the Grading Chairman of the League. He was joined by Bill King, who is the President of the League, and also the Conference, along with being an ex-Chairman of Runcorn FC.

Geoff said, "I'm very impressed with all the hard work that has gone on to get the Millbank Linnets Stadium ready, and the facility is excellent. Although all of the boxes were ticked, there were just one or two very minor glitches that will require rectification before full grading approval can be given, and I'm sure these will be addressed satisfactorily prior to my next visit."

We've already sorted one of the items, which was the lack of a copy of the lighting certificate for the floodlights, which we only received today, and the other issues relate to a bit of signage which is easily rectified. So, like Geoff, we are confident that we'll be in a position to have the full grading confirmed when he next visits.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 08:25:03

All systems go!

The carpets are down, the PA has been tested, the furniture has been laid out, and a miriad of other little jobs have been completed which means that we are now very close to being ready for the Open Day on Wednesday, and the Grand Opening on Saturday!

Thanks to everybody who helped to make this project happen.

SteveP
Barmy Army Signals Corp.

2507 Posts

Posted - 14 Jul 2010 : 23:47:46

Open Day is a success

Thanks to everybody who came down to the ground to day to look around. Quite a number of people took the opportunity to visit, and hopefully everybody enjoyed taking a look at the new facilities. We hope to see you all on Saturday!

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