Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne FC were formed in 1886, becoming founder members of the Kent League and moving into a field behind The Bull pub. The club had a brief spell in the Southern League around the War years and once again a couple of decades later.

 Kent League titles were lifted three times in 1958, 1959, 1976 and 1984 before “The Brikkies” sold The Bull Ground in the centre of the town for £4.5M and built a lavish new arena on the outskirts called Central Park.

Views of Central Park. It's never quite worked out as intended.
The owners certainly didn't watch Location, location, location.

Another Kent League title was lifted and promotion followed to the Southern League. However it soon became apparent that the club had massively overspent on the new stadium bringing them close to bankruptcy. It was sold to the local council and leased back. The lease was then passed on to a company running greyhound racing who in turn gave Sittingbourne a seven year lease.

The old Main Stand at The Bull Ground

Unfortunately fixtures could not be guaranteed because of race events, so the team played on their former adjacent training pitch called Bourne Park. Massive playing budget cutbacks and slow development of Bourne Park have steadied the ship as re-organisation of the league system saw The Brikkies become members of the Isthmian League. Maidstone United have spent time as tenants of Bourne Park while they looked to fund a ground in their home town.

In season 2012-13 Sittingbourne FC will be playing in the Isthmian League Division One South.

 











My visit


I was on annual leave from work so I decided after plenty of research to have a day’s groundhopping in North Kent on Friday 16th July 2010. I had a relaxing break in Faversham after earlier other ground visits before arriving in Sittingbourne.I had wanted to visit both Bourne and Central Park for some time. My parents had mentioned they’d visited the town when I was just a nipper to visit relatives. I remembered when living in Scarborough how Sittingbourne were making big noises about moving up through the leagues at their super stadium when they first moved in. Added to this, my good mate and fellow Scarborough fan, Simon Keane worked near to the ground so I’d no doubt get the chance to see him. 



 










I needed a walk after my splendid pub lunch in Faversham and sure enough I got one. The stadiums' complex were on the far side of an industrial estate along soulless roads. The approach to the grounds was Church Road, which had some very old terraced houses, a boarded up pub, a sports and social club, restricted access and a general feel of neglect. Everywhere seemed litter strewn and overgrown. Simon telephoned me and agreed to meet me outside the stadium once I'd completed my tasks. The entrance to Central Park was certainly grand. It had a huge gateway and car park with an imposing Main Stand. It would have graced a Football League club, but it had been built in completely the wrong place. No buses served the stadium and unless you have a car it would need a very devoted supporter to go on foot on a dark midweek night. All the stadium was locked up, so I couldn't get inside. I know from viewing the internet that the Main Stand was all seated, with a section of covered terrace on the far side and a section of open terracing behind each goal curving around the greyhound track.

Behind the goal at Bourne Park with the Main Stand
of Central Park visible in the background.

Many of the entrances to the stadium were now disused and derelict. It was hard to tell whether the stadium had been totally abandoned. The only sign of life was a business which had rented out a unit at the rear of the stand as a HQ. It was a desperate sight. I walked down past a practice pitch down a slope and into another huge car park servicing Bourne Park. A gentleman gave me permission to enter in the far corner. Well I hate to say it but Bourne Park was also a bit of a mess.  

 











There was one decent Main Stand on the half way line on the far touch line, which was in reasonable condition. On the near side there was a couple of basic covers without any elevation for standing fans. A cover held up with scaffolding pole support was behind the near goal along with several portakabin buildings offering services. The far end had a small roof and open standing. 

The view down to Bourne Park from the Central Park car park

All the open standing areas were consisting of square paving stones, which can look quite smart. Unfortunately weeks had grown threw the gaps making it look unkempt, although to be fair it was still pre season and such work could well be about to be carried out. I certainly hope so. I just find it very sad that a club bobbing happily along sold a prime site and were cast into the wilderness on the edge of town. It's a lesson many clubs would do well to learn from.I met Simon and we walked back into town and connected onto our train for the next call at Gillingham, while catching up with everything.