Solihull
Floodlights
Boro’ pull out a Plum
Colin Peel looks at Damson Park, the new home of Solihull Borough
The epic exile of Solihull Borough finally ended in August when the Dr Martens
Western Division club played its first home match inside the Borough boundary for
over 11 years. Having sold their Widney Lane ground in 1989, Solihull made an
incredible 37 planning applications for a new ground until the 37th – Damson Park –
became a glorious reality. Although Tamworth spoilt the party by winning the opening match on August 8th by the odd goal in three, Solihull’s founder and President
Joe McGorian said: “It’s like a dream come true.”
Widney Lane – a typical Midland Combination-type ground with one small stand – was sold at
the height of the last housing boom for a cool £4m, money which paved the route into the Southern League as Boro’ ground-shared at Moor Green. The club had high hopes for a rural ground at
Tanworth Lane in Shirley which was used by their Reserve side, but green belt regulations put
paid to some ambitious development plans.
What followed was a frustrating battle with the notoriously conservative Council planners over a
multitude of proposed sites for the new ground, finally ending in 1999 when Borough’s proposal to
take over a Nightclub with an attached golfing range was accepted. By now ground-sharing at
Redditch United, Boro’ moved their HQ into the substantial building whilst the driving range was
expertly converted into a football ground.
Some £2m and twelve months later, Damson Park was unveiled to the public, but only after
General Manager Trevor Stevens had given Groundtastic a guided tour. The location is semirural but remarkably convenient (see Directions) and the ground is surrounded by mature trees.
Groundtastic
page 18
Issue 23