By Chris Wright
In order to meet league requirements, Essex-based non-league side Brightlingsea Regent recently took the executive decision to erect a new stand at their North Road ground in order to boost their overall capacity.
Needing to increase the number of seats available at their home ground from 50 to 100 in order to be allowed to play in the league above, the Eastern Counties League Premier Division (ninth tier) side took to Ebay in order to buy a new stand, which they did so at a cost of around £5,500 – plus postage and packaging, presumably.
The stand had apparently been listed on Ebay by a seller on the Isle of Wight, with Regent chairman Terry Doherty keeping tabs on it dutifully before finally making his move.
“We actually spotted the stand on eBay two years ago and we’ve been tracking it ever since,” Doherty told BBC Essex. “Luckily it was still there and we’re hoping to pick it up from the Isle of Wight.”
Apparently the stand (which will take North Road’s overall capacity to 157) has been dismantled, packed onto a truck and is now heading toward Brightlingsea, a coastal town roughly ten miles south of Colchester, with the club hoping to have it erected in time for Saturday’s FA Vase fourth-round clash with Bodmin – a game which is being billed as the biggest in the Essex side’s history.
“We will easily fill it,” said Doherty, before adding that stand had only been used once before for a tennis tournament. “It’s more comfort for the fans and you want to make it a good day out for them.”
(Image via BBC Sport)