Colchester Gladiators to play at ground in Harwich

Colchester Gladiators were kicked out of Wivenhoe Town’s Broad Lane stadium after a dispute over money.

Gladiators have now agreed a deal which will seem them play the rest of the season’s fixtures at Harwich and Parkeston Football Club.

Gladiators chairman Tom Burridge said: “The Gladiators had a number of options open to us, but ultimately, it was an easy decision.

“Harwich has been one of our target markets for quite some time. We’ve attracted players and coaches from the area, but seemingly not been able to foster as much support from the area.

“This move will allow us to promote American football in Harwich and Dovercourt, and, hopefully, showcase the sport with the help of Harwich and Parkeston Football Club.”

The club still train at Sir Charles Lucas Sports Centre, Colchester, and say they have no plans to change the name or discourage supporters from the original home town.

However, if all goes well for the rest of this summer’s campaign, Gladiators hope to remain at Harwich and Parkeston’s Royal Oak ground next season.

Mr Burridge said the move was probably for the best, as the Gladiators might need to be involved in end-of-season playoff fixtures, after the start of the football season, which could have clashed with Wivenhoe’s own fixtures.

He added: “With our youth team heading their division, and the senior team still in the hunt for play-off football, we needed a ground which could cater for us, not only for the remainder of the regular season, but also for the possibility of post-season action as well.

“Harwich and Parkeston offer us this guarantee, where Wivenhoe and other grounds might not have been able to do so.”

The Gazette reported last week the club had fallen out with Wivenhoe Town. Details have now emerged about the dispute which forced the move.

The row arose when Gladiators asked to use the ground for a youth team game and fundraising Fourth of July barbecue this Sunday.

Wivenhoe chairman Carl Callan agreed, but later insisted his own staff would have to run the barbecue and keep the profits from food sales.

Gladiators chairman Mr Burridge argued it was too late to change the original agreement as food had already been ordered, and the dispute escalated.

An angry e-mail exchange ended with Mr Callan telling his Gladiators counterpart: “You do not want to use the resource, we do not want you to use it and you must now find another venue.”