Non-League club Maidenhead United have received a major boost in their plans to leave their historic home at York Road.
York Road is widely recognised as the country's oldest football ground, with the Football Association and FIFA both acknowledging the 155-year-old stadium as the oldest continuously-used senior association football ground by the same club in the world.
Maidenhead United have called York Road their home since 1871, but the National League South side have long held ambitions to leave the ground in favour of a new purpose-built stadium.
Maidenhead United handed major boost to relocation plans
The club's hopes of moving away from York Road suffered a major blow back in 2023 when the local council's administration blocked the release of open space at the park intended to become the site of their new stadium, bringing Maidenhead United's plans to a halt.
However, recent developments have emerged that have seen Maidenhead United handed a major boost in their efforts to move away from the historic home.
Discussions between the club and Windsor and Maidenhead Council have seemed to reignite the club's aspirations to move away from York Road to a new purpose-built stadium.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's (RWBM) cabinet have agreed to allow the club's proposal to move home to progress, with a consultation set to be carried out before a final decision is made by the council.
If the club's plans receive the green light from the council, then planning applications for their new home are expected to be submitted shortly afterwards.
What are Maidenhead United's new stadium plans?
Maidenhead United are looking to construct a new purpose-built football stadium at Braywick Park, with an intended capacity of 5000, including 2,000 seats.
The club intend to install a pitch made of a mix of artificial turf and grass, while changing rooms for both the men's and women's teams will be constructed if Maidenhead United's plans are given the green light.
FGG says: Time for a move
It is always sad to see club's move away from historic stadiums, marking the end of an era, but sometimes it is the right thing to do.
Just as Inter Milan and AC Milan intend to leave the iconic San Siro in favour of a more modern home, the time has also come for Maidenhead United to part ways with the 155-year-old York Road and move to a newer, more purpose-built ground.