Whilst debuting in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League Norton United were able to use for the first time their new changing facilities. The new rooms have been donated by Stoke City after the completion of their Trent Vale Michelin complex. The training ground cost £6m.
Terry Robinson, director of youth at the club, cut the ribbon at Community Drive. Steve Beaumont, Norton chairman was pleased with the way the day went. A development team from Stoke played Norton’s under-14s before the opening ceremony was performed.
The Community Drive headquarters used by the club are receiving a major revamp of which the changing rooms are a part. The club has also installed new floodlights with the help of a grant. In all the club received £88,622, including, from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, £23,000; £51,000 from the Football Foundation and £14,622 was granted by the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.
Peter McNestry of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust and MP for Stoke-on-Trent, Joan Walley were among the guests at the celebration. The Chairman revealed that the club now has a three-year sponsorship deal in place with Autonet Insurance from Stoke. The ground is to be renamed Autonet Insurance Community Sports Ground.
Their Premier Division debut, however, started badly when they were beaten by AFC Blackpool. AFC Blackpool’s Marco Cobb scored in the 67th-minute to take the lead, leaving Norton unable to respond. Elsewhere Alsager Town and Stone Dominoes both drew, while Congleton, Eccleshall and Leek CSOB all lost.
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