Slough Town FC announces date of first home game on return to the town

The long-awaited date for a football club to make its return to the town has been announced.

Slough Town Football Club confirmed on Twitter it is due to play its first game at the new Arbour Park Community Sports Facility on Tuesday, August 16, 10 days after the season starts.

Currently the Rebels play their games in Beaconsfield but it was announced last year that it would be able to play its home games at the £7.9m Slough Borough Council facility in Stoke Road.

As well as a 3G pitch and a stand for fans, the community sports facility will also have a four-court sports hall for nearby school St Joseph’s Catholic High School, which is part of phase one of the project.

The second phase includes the installation of a function room, bar, directors room, boardroom, washrooms and balcony.

It is hoped phase two will be finished by spring next year.

Work which has been completed so far includes preparing the sports pitch for the 3G playing surface, laying down tarmac for the car park and installing the top sheets of the sports hall roof.

The facility is part of the council’s £33.4m leisure strategy, which also includes a £17.8m project which involves demolishing The Centre in Farnham Road to make way for a new leisure centre and a £7.7m refurbishment of Absolutely Ice in Montem Lane.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are really pleased with the progress being made and are confident phase one of the new Arbour Park Community Sports Facility will finish on time.

“Arbour Park is taking shape with work to prepare the 3G sports pitch, build the seating stands and tarmac the car park making good progress.

“Roll-out of the 3G pitch will start next week, helping to create a first-class sports facility that Slough can be proud of.

“On completion, the new facility will serve an area of the borough that has high inactivity levels and will offer a programme of activity attracting local people of all ages to become more active, more often - a key outcome in the council’s five year £35m leisure strategy, which also includes developing a new leisure centre and refurbishments to the ice rink.”