BASINGSTOKE Town has become the first football club ever to name their stadium after a charity for a season.

The ground will be called the Ark Cancer Charity Stadium for the coming campaign.

It is a significant backing for the charity, which is raising £5million towards a unique local cancer treatment centre that will be built in the Basingstoke area.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, was invited by club chairman Rafi Razzak to speak about the partnership proposal, including the stadium naming idea, at a fans’ forum last Friday. The chairman then put it to the vote and a majority were in favour.

Mr Razzak believes the partnership is another positive development for the club and said: “I was happy to put this idea to a vote and we would not have taken the proposal forward if the majority of the fans at the forum had not voted to support it.

“Ark Cancer Centre Charity is raising money for a much-needed cancer treatment centre, and as chairman of our community-focused club, I am delighted that Basingstoke Town FC will be involved in helping to raise awareness of this Mark Jones said: “I am very grateful to the fans and directors for their support for the charity. Basingstoke Town FC is at the heart of the local community and it is a club with a great history.”