THE survival of Basingstoke Town was given a major boost at Wednesday night’s council meeting, with the news that the football club have formed a partnership with the Hampshire FA, which will pave the way for them to play at their Winklebury headquarters.

A joint statement between the two sides was read out at the meeting giving the Hampshire FA’s support of the Dragons, making their Winklebury Complex their new home, hopefully for the start of the 2018/19 season.

In return the club would support Hampshire FA’s proposal for the council to transfer the facilities to them on a long lease.

All the councillors at the meeting welcomed the new partnership, but there is still a lot of work to be done before the new Basingstoke Town Community Club can move there.

This would include the laying of a new 3G pitch, along with a small amount of extra seating and terraces and all would need planning permission.

This is needed to bring the facility up to the Southern League Premier Division standard, the league Town play in currently.

The council are owners of the Winklebury Complex so would need to be involved in any discussions.

The club are also fully aware that the residents of Winklebury need to be consulted as to the implications of having a football team playing in their community.

Alan Turvey President of Basingstoke Town said: “Having a new home is very important to the football club and it not only benefit the men’s team, but the club also has an academy, ladies, disabled and young football players who would all benefit from being able to use this facility. A thriving football club can bring so much more to a town.”

This move has been forced on the football club as their current home the Camrose is set to be sold for housing by the owner of the club Rafi Razzak.

There was also much discussion regarding a covenant put on the ground in 1953 by Lord Camrose. This stated the ground should be kept as a leisure facility for 100 years which would mean up until year 2053. The council so far haven’t been able to find the original document so the full details cannot be confirmed but they have agreed to continue to look in to this.