Construction finally began this week on Newport IW’s new stadium at the Racecourse in Whippingham.
With the main stand at Newport’s former St George’s Park ground having been demolished, much of the equipment used has now been transferred to the new site.
An area is currently being prepared for an access road to the new stadium from Whippingham Road (A3021) just past the Racecourse Roundabout.
Port’s patient fans have had a very long wait for building work to commence. The County Town club are now into their 6th year of ground sharing after leaving their former St George’s Park home, first lodging at East Cowes Vics’ Beatrice Avenue home for 2 years before moving to Ryde Saints’ Smallbrook Stadium, then returning to Beatrice Avenue last season.
It has now been over 6 years since Island Echo first reported that Newport would be relocating to Whippingham, back in 2017. The County Town Club previously predicted that work on the new ground would begin in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Further predictions were made for September 2022 and March 2023.
The club have announced their intention for the new ground to be ready by the start of the 2025/26 season. Whether the most recent deadline will be met remains to be seen.
However there is now physical evidence of construction work being carried out on the site.
What was the matter with their ground in Newport?