The future of Whitby’s Fishburn Park Football Club has been secured after a property developer gifted three acres of land to the club.
Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, gave Fishburn Park FC the land, off Stainsacre Lane, after six years of talks and in time for the club’s upcoming 80th anniversary.
The land, near to the wider 24 acre Broomfields Farm housing development, has been used by Fishburn Park FC for many years as a long-standing tenant. Keyland first met with representatives of the club in 2020 to discuss its plans for residential development on what became Phase 1 of the Broomfields Farm site. That land was subsequently sold to Barratt Homes in 2021.
The company later returned to the club to discuss plans for the neighbouring site, formerly known as Phase 2. This was sold to North Yorkshire Council owned company, Brierley Homes earlier this year and is being developed to deliver 49 affordable, low-carbon homes following the grant of detailed planning permission.
Following the delivery of the two phases, Keyland said gifting the additional land to the football club was an appropriate way to give something back to the club which has had a long-standing presence in the area with football teams across a range of age groups as well as men’s and women’s teams.
Allan Burnett, president of Fishburn Park FC, said: “Fishburn Park has been part of this community for generations and to have the security of our own land as we approach our 80th anniversary is something we are incredibly proud of. I don’t think any other club in town owns their own pitch, so this is fantastic for us.
“Keyland has worked with us throughout the development of the Broomfields Farm site and has always recognised that the football club is about more than just football. We provide a place for people to come together, for young people to play sport and for families to be part of something local.
“This is a fantastic gesture from Keyland and one that will make a real difference to the future of the club. We are very grateful and are looking forward to celebrating our 80th anniversary knowing that the club has a secure future.”
Catherine Cairns, land and development manager at Keyland Developments, said: “We have had a close relationship with the club for many years. They have been extremely supportive throughout the development process and have understood the benefits that bringing new homes and investment to the area can bring.
“Once the two phases of development had been successfully delivered, we felt it was important to give something back. We hope it gives Fishburn Park FC the security it needs for the future and helps it continue the work it does in the community for many years to come.”
