Darren Edmondson has urged the Penrith community to pull together and support all teams playing under the town club’s umbrella following completion of major improvement work at Frenchfield Park stadium.
First team boss Edmondson will take charge of his side’s opening home game of 2023-24 on Tuesday evening after 10 weeks of away games amid ongoing renovation work.
A 3G playing surface, new floodlights, dugouts, pitchside and perimeter fencing have been installed as part of an £870,000 project to boost facilities at a club which boast more than 30 men’s, women’s, junior and pan disability teams.
The new pitch is available not only to club players but also those throughout the community.
Penrith Reserves kicked off competitive matches on the new pitch on Saturday before the first XI’s midweek Cumberland Cup first round tie against Bransty Rangers.
Edmondson said: “The stadium looks class, everything looks brilliant. Fingers crossed we can get used to it as soon as possible.”
After a tough start and a glut of away trips, the Blues’ first home Northern League match is on October 14 against Northallerton Town.
“That will be nice for everybody, not just for our players but also the chairman and committee members who’ve had to make all the same journeys we have,” said Edmondson.
“For everybody it will be great to get some home games under our belt.”
Football club revenue has been hit with no games played at the stadium so far this season.
But Edmondson said supporters around Penrith and the general public could play their part by visiting Frenchfield Park — which opened in 2009 and replaced the previous town centre Southend Road stadium — to watch matches.
“Everybody needs to pull together. It’s not in the centre of town any more but everybody knows that. We’ve got not a new stadium but a new playing surface and it feels like a new beginning,” he said.
“Hopefully, regardless of league position, some more of the locals will come down and have a look, check things out and we can try to use that pitch to our advantage.”
Edmondson described the club in general, and the efforts of all players, coaches, parents, volunteers and sponsors, as “amazing”.
“I don’t think a lot of the community realise how big it is, the junior section in particular, and how much it’s growing and helping the town,” he said.
“Everyone wants it to succeed. We need a big push between now and Christmas to get people down and support the team and then that flows down. If the first team is doing well then that reflects on everybody and it just brings a good spirit to it all.
“But what’s going on below the first team is fantastic. Everyone at the club should be proud of what they’re doing.
