Chairman Stig excited to work on plans to redevelop Blackfriars End

An old artist's impression of what a redeveloped Blackfriars End could have looked like. Picture: Herefordshire Council

The redevelopment of the dilapidated Blackfriars End at Edgar Street is looking slightly more likely after recent meetings between the club and the landlord Herefordshire Council.

A new, long-term lease could be signed soon after meetings over the past fortnight.

Hereford chairman Chris Ammonds said that would mean the club can start applying for grants to develop and improve the stadium, with the floodlights, in particular, a recurring topic. He also said he was excited to be working with the council on the plans.

The council said it will be exploring options for how the stand could be redeveloped to "increase capacity and help secure the viability of the stadium".

The council has also said "plans are under discussion for the redevelopment" of the stand, with a view to bringing a project forward in the new year. The club are a "vital partner", cabinet member Cllr Harry Bramer said, and he will "ensure they are included in every stage of the project development".

Currently, the club do not hold a lease for the dilapidated stand which was closed way back in 2009. Temporary seating was then brought after this before work to improve half of the terrace.

But since the club reformed, that end of the ground has never been used for fans to watch the game, but access to facilities, including water tanks, has been allowed.

Herefordshire Council cabinet members were expected to approve the first stage of a redevelopment project at a meeting in March 2020, but that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The initial £14.375m regeneration plans focused on providing student and or key worker accommodation, a community room and spectator provision located on Blackfriars Street at Hereford Football Club.

A year later, cabinet members agreed to look again at the scheme. But, publicly at least, very little appeared to materialise.

Since then, the political makeup of the council has changed and the Greens-Independent coalition is no more. The Conservatives now control the council with a minority administration.

Ammonds, or Stig as he's known, said: "We are also excited at the prospect of working closely with the council to develop the Blackfriars End, which as everyone agrees, is in much need of development.

"We are in the process of arranging further meetings for early in 2024 and along with the council, we are committed to providing updates on our joint progress as soon as we are able to.”

Chairman Chris Ammonds, right

On the extension to the current lease, which runs until 2030, he said: “Our recent meetings with Herefordshire Council have been very positive and I would like to thank them for their support and positivity in relation to Hereford Football Club.

“A longer-term lease would enable us to start applying for grants to help develop and improve the stadium and help secure the club’s future.

"So to hear direct from the council about their willingness and ambition to agree a long-term lease in the very near future is brilliant news.

“It is clear the council is very much aware of, and appreciates the benefit that this club has for the local community, the City of Hereford, and the County as a whole.

There is a real feel-good factor around Edgar Street at the moment and long may that continue. Securing our long-term future here would be another fantastic boost and a hugely significant moment."