Uppermill FC agree Mossley groundshare for next season
Date published: 17 July 2024
Pictured are (left to right): David Fish (Mossley FC first team manager), Stephen Porter (Mossley FC chairman), Steve Southern (Uppermill FC chairman) and Mark Howard (Uppermill FC manager)
Uppermill Football Club have announced a groundshare agreement that will see the club's first team play their home matches at Mossley's TotalRope Solutions Seel Park during their 2024-25 Manchester Football League campaign.
The agreement forms part of a wider partnership between the two clubs which will aim to provide young footballers across the region a development pathway to open-age football, as well as giving opportunities to aspiring coaches looking to improve their skillsets and progress to coaching at higher levels in the football pyramid.
Mossley chairman Stephen Porter said: “As a football club, we are fully aware of how difficult it can be to progress in non-league football, each step comes with its own hurdles that provide boards and committees with lots of challenges.
“When we were approached by Uppermill, we did not hesitate; football is one big family and we are always keen to support local clubs in their ambition to grow.
"This partnership is so much more than just a groundshare agreement; we believe it will provide young footballers from our local communities with a clear pathway into open-age football.
"That’s something we are passionate about as a club and we are delighted to begin working on this alongside Uppermill FC for many years to come.
"I’d like to thank Steve Southern and Mark Howard from Uppermill FC and our first team manager, David Fish, on their support in getting this partnership started.”
Uppermill FC saw their first team finish as champions of the Manchester Football League Premier Division last season.
However, due to their regular home at Churchill playing fields not being at the required level, they were not promoted to the North West Counties football league.
During their championship-winning campaign, TotalRope Solutions Seel Park played host to a local derby against Springhead FC that saw the would-be champions run out 5-2 winners in front of a bumper crowd that will hopefully form a platform for attendances for the coming season.
On formalising the groundshare agreement, Uppermill FC chairman Southern said: “The fact that a club of the stature of Mossley AFC wish to form a progressive partnership with Uppermill FC is a sign of just how far our club has come in a very short space of time.
"This is testament to the credible reputation we are building on and off the football pitch.
“Having met the leadership team at Mossley, we were immediately struck by how their values and beliefs mirrored those we have at Uppermill.
"Both clubs treasure the community in which their clubs live and both of us wish to provide the widest possible opportunity for local footballing talent to thrive.
"We have high hopes for our partnership.”
Whilst the fixtures have not yet been released for their upcoming Manchester Football League campaign, Uppermill’s first game at TotalRope Solutions Seel Park will take place on Friday, August 2 as they host Rochdale Sacred Heart in the Norman Norden Cup (7.30pm kick-off).
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