Background
In August 2022 Frome Town Council (FTC) stepped in to prevent imminent reposession of Badgers Hill, signing a deal to help secure the Badgers Hill stadium and ground as a community asset. The deal between FTC and Frome Town Holdings, owners of Frome Town AFC, worth just over £377k, paid off a third-party lender and secured the future of Badgers Hill for football and community use.
Badgers Hill timeline
Frome Town Council and lead councillor for the project, Mel Usher, worked with the existing board of directors at Frome Town Holdings and Frome Town AFC on the Badgers Hill project during 2022.
| Frome Town Holdings (2022) | Frome Town AFC (2022) |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Alderman | Jonothan Carver |
| Ivan Carver | Derek Graham |
| Neil Clark | Daniel Greaves |
| Gary Collinson | Gary Collinson |
| Jonothan Carver | Herbert Turner |
| William Collinson |
In October 2022, at a public meeting, the plan to form a new Community Benefit Society (CBS) to manage and run the facilities was formed.
August 2023
- Formation of the Frome Town Community Benefit Society (FTCBS) to run the clubhouse and stadium, working with FTAFC as ongoing operators of the football club.
- Frome Town Holdings transfers ownership of Badgers Hill to FTC
- FTC issues a 25-year lease to FTCBS
- FTCBS simultaneously issues a sub-licence to FTAFC.
- Registration of FTCBS with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- An interim board made up of Frome Town AFC, Frome Town Council, representatives of the Football Supporters Association and members of the public works on the Badgers Hill project, ahead of the first AGM.
November 2023 – first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the FTCBS
Election of first board of the FTCBS:
- Andrew Carpenter
- Philip Goodwin
- Martin Walsh
- Lester Silk
- Thomas Bond
December 2023
Frome Town Council wins the Non-League Club Award at the Football Supporters Association Awards for the Badgers Hill project
February 2024
Receipt of £50,000 grant from Community Ownership Fund (COF) for professional fees for the improvement project.
March 2024
Resignations of Philip Goodwin and Martin Walsh.
June 2024
Co-opted appointment of Gary Collinson and David Parry to FTCBS board.
November 2024
Improvement works begin at Badgers Hill.
December 2024
- AGM and appointment of new board of FTCBS directors
- Community Ownership Fund (COF) grant of £314,000 received for improvement works
Board of FTCBS directors – from December 2024
- Max Hirst
- Anne Hills
- Gary Collinson (subsequently resigned)
- Lester Silk (subsequently resigned)
- Philip Campagna
- Chris Browne
June 2025
Extraordinary Council Meeting rejects a proposal from private investor Courtney Fong and the newly-formed Badgers Hill Ltd, new owners of FTAFC, to lease Badgers Hill with an option to buy, although it leaves the door open to an amended proposal.
2 July 2025
FTC votes in favour of an amended proposal from Courtney Fong and Badgers Hill Ltd (BHL) to lease the stadium and grounds, with an option to buy.
16 July 2025
FTC agree an interim ‘tenancy at will’ for Badgers Hill, to allow FTAFC to participate in the forthcoming football season during leasehold negotiations.
December 2025
Frome Town Council calls an Extraordinary Council Meeting and rescinds BHL’s exclusivity option to purchase the Badgers Hill site, because of non-payment of rent and concerns about management of the site. As of March 2026, BHL retain the tenancy at will for Badgers Hill and own and operate FTAFC, ahead of an open tender process to take on the stadium and grounds
FTC commissions an independent audit of the improvement works at Badgers Hill.
