A piece of history disappears at Nethermoor (From Advertiser Series)

A piece of history disappears at Nethermoor

4:35pm Friday 12th June 2009

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Work has begun on the pitch and the ground at Nethermoor and it will be more than general summer maintenance this close season at Guiseley.

The remnants of the main stand - the famous old bandstand purchased off Harry Ramsden’s - has been removed.

Unfortunately a piece of history was destroyed. This time last year the wooden structure was wrecked by arsonists and most of it was subsequently declared unfit for use by health and safety authorities.

The club had to make good the damage, with or without any possible insurance payment, in time for it not to affect their ground grading. They were left without any covered seating or a press box.

Both are requirements for UniBond Premier Division ground grading but because the damage was caused by vandalism, Guiseley were allowed time to put their stadium back in order.

The rest of the ground is well within the criteria but they could leave nothing to chance after they came so close to promotion to the Blue Square North last season. They reached the play-offs but were beaten in extra time of their semi-final.

The pitch has also undergone a transition and is currently under cover after being scarified, rolled and reseeded. It is hoped that the covers will defy the local bird population from enjoying an easy takeaway.

Because the surface will need time to produce a playable pitch, the home friendlies have been held back until later in the pre-season campaign. The Lions will travel to Goole AFC and Bamber Bridge for their opening warm-up games.

The visits of Greg Abbott’s Carlisle United and Leeds United, for their traditional warm-up clash, will be in the last week of July and the first week of August.

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