More than 7 years of groundsharing are almost over for Newport IW FC, with the finishing touches being made to the club’s impressive new WightFibre Park.
Island Echo has been given a first look around the County Town club’s long-awaited new home at Whippingham, where a 1,500-capacity ground and modern facilities have been created for Newport and the wider Island football community.
Newport are currently scheduled to welcome supporters through the gates for the first time on Tuesday 1st September, when the Port host Fawley in what is hoped will attract a large crowd.
The landmark fixture comes just over 2 weeks later than originally planned, with the finishing touches being completed at WightFibre Park ahead of its eagerly anticipated opening.
From outside, WightFibre Park gives little indication of the scale of the facilities within, with the ground appearing considerably larger once through the gates.
At its heart is a 4G artificial pitch, which will be refreshed every 10 days as part of its maintenance programme.
The ground has an overall capacity of 1,500, including 176 seats, while 2 covered standing areas can each accommodate 75 spectators.
The main stand sits alongside the large clubhouse, with covered spectator areas also positioned behind the goals.
Floodlights from Newport’s former St George’s Park home have been brought back into use at Whippingham, but have been upgraded with new LED lights.
High netting is also set to be installed between the football ground and the neighbouring Racecourse to prevent footballs leaving the site.
Importantly for Newport’s ambitions on the pitch, WightFibre Park has been built to Step 4 requirements. That means the club could achieve 2 promotions from its current level before further extensions or improvements to the ground would be required to meet the relevant grading requirements.
Inside the substantial clubhouse are state-of-the-art changing rooms, a dedicated laundry room and office space. Like the ground itself, the building appears significantly larger inside than its exterior might suggest.
WightFibre Park is intended to be much more than simply a home for Newport’s first team.
The club already operates numerous youth sides and hopes to establish a women’s team, while the 4G pitch will be available for community use – including by teams competing in the Island’s local football leagues.
The clubhouse’s function room can accomodate 150 people and has a well-equipped bar and kitchen.
The opening of the new ground will bring to an end an exceptionally long road back to having a permanent home. Newport left St George’s Park at the end of the 2018/19 season after more than 30 years at the ground near Shide.
The Port initially moved to Beatrice Avenue, home of East Cowes Vics, before later playing at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde. The club subsequently returned to Beatrice Avenue and, most recently, shared Westwood Park with traditional rivals Cowes Sports.
South Coast Leisure, which has developed the new stadium, has now been publicly thanked by Newport for the support it has provided throughout that period. According to the club, the company’s significant financial backing has included funding groundshare rental and away-team travel for the past 7 seasons.
Newport has particularly thanked Tony Wake and the current directors of South Coast Leisure for helping the club through difficult years and ultimately delivering its new home.
Paul Rushton, Director of Newport IW Football Club, has said:
“Football clubs don’t succeed on their own. They rely on people who are prepared to stand behind them, often without seeking any recognition. South Coast Leisure have done exactly that for many years.
“On behalf of everyone connected with Newport, I’d like to thank them for everything they have done for our club. We genuinely wouldn’t be where we are today without their support.
“The new ground isn’t just a home for Newport. It will provide first-class facilities that will benefit the Isle of Wight football community for many years. That’s a lasting legacy, and one everyone involved should be very proud of.”
Tony Wake, Director of SCL Development, has said:
“We’ve always believed Newport IW Football Club is an important part of the town and the wider community. We’re pleased to have been able to help the club over the years and we’re delighted that WightFibre Park is ready to open.”
Physical construction at the Racecourse site began in October 2024 following years of plans and delays.
WightFibre secured the naming rights to the stadium last month, with the Island telecommunications company also becoming Newport IW FC’s main sponsor under a 3-season agreement.
Now, after years of plans, delays and playing home matches elsewhere on the Island, Newport finally has the permanent base it has been waiting for – both for the club and the wider football community.
Why the need for a bar, it’s a game of football
not a boozer.
Let’s hole they place high nets along Fairlee Road
otherwise plenty of balls may end up in the road,
may be a recipe for disaster if not!
They will hire it out for functions
Good point as long as it doesn’t encourage
drink driving.
Should rename it Binfield Rovers..
Floodlights that will blind drivers,
Balls flying into the road every 5 minutes,
A 4G pitch because they can afford grass,
2 years later than planned and looks like a 5 a side sized pitch. Jokers
Isle of Wight Road safety at it’s best.
A 4G pitch so it can be used all year round.
A decent bar which will used not only on match days but for functions.
I highly doubt the floodlights will blind drivers.
With suitable netting erected (Rather like many clubs) balls on the road will be very rare.
2 years later than planned because of issues beyond the club’s control.
Several teams use 4G pitches and the pitch meets the league and FA guidelines.
Looks great and hopefully there will be a decent attendance for their first fixture.
As regards the “Binfield” jibe. Grimsby Town is in Cleethorpes. Manchester United is in Salford….Next point?
After looking up 4G football pitches, it seems they are not approved for competitive football.
This isn’t real football, just like a bunch of men
kicking a ball around like in a park.
Technically you are correct however several clubs in the football pyramid use them and while “Officially unlike the 3G pitch the FA does not approve of them no club has been sanctioned or banned from using them.
Should Newport get to tier three or four then they will need to make several ground improvements. I suspect a switch to a 3G pitch would be one of them
Well done for building a plastic pitch that can’t be played on because it’s too hot. Whilst the rest of the world has stopped building Astro turf because of the rising cancer rates in young goalkeepers especially, this 4G ground is a curse. Don’t islanders deserve to play football on grass? Backwards
No one can play on what was known as ‘grass’ pitches at the moment because they are hard as concrete.
4G? AstroTurf? Do you even know what these pitches are?
As for your other scares and rubbish, your tinfoil hat must really hurt.
There are some valid criticisms to be made, but all of yours are wide of the mark
Surely you didn’t expect Health and Safety
after all it’s the Isle of Wight
Health and Safety is zilch!
So plastic grass so that’s shit and what about balls going towards the road?Is traffic going out onto the race course? because if so there WILL be bad crashes.
FOR ANYONE READING THESE COMMENTS – PLEASE IGNORE ALL COMMENTS ON THIS FEED. THEY ARE TALKING ABSOLUTE SH!TE
I would have excepted you along with IsleKnow, but your comment wasn’t up when I posted mine.
I totally agree with you.
Luton Town had a plastic pitch in the 80’s played to
their advantage.
Finished 6th in the league and won the league cup.
Some truly pathetic comments here.
Negative, whingeing, small minded and petty.
Get a life, the lot of you – IsleKnow excepted.
Water grass pitches they are watering golf courses for the
Elites, why not water grass football pitches.
Maybe because they think Football is a thugs game, unlike
Golf which is more snooty.