Frome Town Council and Frome Town AFC have agreed a two-year lease for Badgers Hill Stadium and clubhouse. This agreement facilitates vital improvement works at the site, settles rent arrears and other debts and ensures league champions Frome Town AFC can compete in the forthcoming season in the Southern League at Badgers Hill, the team’s home for more than a century, while also preserving the facilities for varied community use.
Chair and Leader of FTC, Cllr Fiona Barrows, said:
“Since 2022, Frome Town Council has worked consistently and proactively to secure a sustainable long-term future for football at Badgers Hill. We have remained committed to finding a workable solution, making significant concessions along the way to keep football at the ground. It hasn’t been easy, so we are pleased – and relieved – to have reached this stage, providing stability for football and community at Badgers Hill, and enabling vital improvements to the site, including the boiler and changing room facilities.”
Courtney Fong, owner of Frome Town AFC, said:
“Frome Town AFC is pleased that a new lease agreement has been completed for Badgers Hill, securing the club’s future at its historic home. This agreement provides the stability needed for the club to continue operating, investing and growing, while ensuring that Badgers Hill remains a valued sporting and community asset for the town of Frome.
“Over the past year, many people have worked tirelessly to reach this point. We would like to thank our supporters, volunteers, sponsors, staff, players and partners for their patience, encouragement and unwavering commitment to the club throughout a period of uncertainty. We also thank Frome Town Council for its engagement in reaching an agreement that allows both organisations to move forward with clarity and confidence. While there have been differing views at times, we are pleased to have found a way forward that secures the future of football at Badgers Hill and creates a foundation for a positive working relationship in the years ahead.
“The focus now shifts firmly to the future. Following a remarkable promotion-winning season, the club enters the Southern League Premier Division South with renewed optimism and ambition. Our priority remains building a successful, sustainable football club, improving facilities at Badgers Hill and strengthening the role the club plays within the wider community.
“This is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing the work of developing Badgers Hill, supporting football at all levels and creating something that the people of Frome can be proud of for generations to come.”
Cllr Barrows added:
“From the outset, we have been clear that we have a duty to safeguard public money and could not enter into arrangements that exposed Frome residents to unacceptable financial risk. This new agreement provides both parties with a transparent and sustainable way forward. The two-year lease is an opportunity to rebuild relationships and trust and provides assurance to residents that we continue to protect their investment in Badgers Hill.”
Details of the lease
- Frome Town AFC to settle rent arrears of £8,000 +VAT, a reduced rate taking into account works undertaken at Badgers Hill, plus other debts totalling £15,534.
- Frome Town AFC to commit to rent of £21,000 per annum.
- FTC to reinvest first year’s rental income, plus £18,000 from its Badgers Hill budget for repair and improvement works to the boiler and heating system – totalling £39,000.
- Repairs and maintenance are solely the responsibility of Frome Town AFC after this final capital investment by Frome Town Council.
