Sign this petition to show your support for the 'Yorke Park' Community Project, at Lincoln Road Playing Fields. The project comprises a Community Stadium for football, boxing, music and other events; a Community Kitchen; a 'Men in Sheds' workspace; an educational academy helping young people get a career in the sports and events industry; floodlit 3G pitches for training and youth games with additional changing rooms; tree planting creating a Woodland Walk.

The construction of this stadium will create jobs for local people with opportunities to train in construction, and provide further jobs in bar work, sports coaching, stadium operations and events management once the construction phase is complete.

 

 

 

 

See info on the graphics above and FAQ's on the project below:

Top 12 FAQs About the proposal for a stadium and 3G pitch as part of the Yorke Drive regeneration  

1. What is the Community Stadium?

The Stadium is a proposed community-owned, eco-friendly sports and events venue built from recycled shipping containers. It will provide a home for football, music and other events alongside an academy for people wanting to work in the sports and events industry. 

2. Who will own the stadium?

We are asking the council to transfer the land into a Community Land Trust (CLT), meaning local residents can become shareholders and have a say in how the site is managed. This ensures that the stadium and the wider land benefits Yorke Drive and Newark residents first.

3. What will be on the site besides football?

We want to make this a multi-use community hub. Potential features include:

A bar & cafe

A 3G training pitch 

Two mini soccer pitches

The Highwaymen sports academy for people wanting to work in the sports and events industry 

Classrooms 

An expanded trim trail

An increased area of woodland park for dog walking with benches

An equipped playground area

A gym

A community kitchen

A men in sheds building (community workshop) 

Community events & live music

Job training & skills development

Additional car parking

 

4. How will this benefit local people?

This is more than just a stadium it’s about opportunity. The project will create:

Well-paid jobs with training in construction, sports coaching, bar work, and event management

A vibrant social space for the whole community

Better sports and leisure facilities for local families

Discounted subs for junior football 

5. What jobs and training will be available?

Unemployed residents in Yorke Drive will be offered training and paid work to help build the stadium. This includes:

Construction & trades (carpentry, electrics, plumbing, metalwork)

Groundskeeping & stadium maintenance

Hospitality (bar work, events, catering)

Sports coaching

Facilities and events management 

6. What makes this an eco-friendly project?

The stadium will be built from 66 recycled shipping containers, reducing waste and costs. It will be designed with off-grid energy solutions such as solar power and rainwater harvesting, ensuring a low environmental impact.

7. When will construction start?

If approved, work is expected to begin in the summer of 2025, with completion within the following year.

8. Why wasn’t this part of the original application for the playing field?

Sport Englands minimum requirements were 3 grass pitches and two mini pitches with some changing rooms. Due to budget constraints the Council only allocated a minimum budget for the project and therefore chose to go with Sport Englands minimum requirements  

9. How will this be paid for?

We are asking the council to allocate the money they have already set aside for their basic option to the project. In addition to that we will access funding from the football foundation, the premier league stadium fund, alongside funding that Newark and Sherwood DC have already allocated for 3G pitches in Newark. 

We will also raise money through the sale of shares and through sponsorship. 

10. Will this delay the rest of the redevelopment scheme for Yorke Drive? No, our proposals can be carried out alongside the program that the council and Lovells have for the wider regeneration scheme

11. What clubs will use the stadium and training facilities?

Newark and Sherwood United FC - The Highwaymen, will be the Men’s Saturday team bringing FA cup games and hopefully promotion games to the stadium. Alongside the Highwaymen we are talking to Newark Brazil and Fernwood Foxes who have teams for boys and girls football from under 6 to under 18. 

12. How can I get involved?

You can...

- Attend our events and have your say

- Sign up for job and training opportunities

- Join the Community Land Trust to help shape the stadiums future

This is YOUR stadium, let’s build it together!