Coles Park

HARINGEY Borough’s 35-year stay at Coles Park is set to come to an end after Haringey Council approved plans to demolish the historic 80-year-old ground in White Hart Lane.

The council has voted through a host of cuts to services in a bid to save £41million in 2011/2012, as a result of cuts in central government grants.

Those cuts would see the Spartan South Midlands League outfit, who have played at Coles Park in Tottenham since their 1976 formation, relocated to nearby White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre, which would itself undergo redevelopment, and the club’s current ground will be demolished and sold off for redevelopment.

A Haringey Council spokeswoman confirmed: “The council and Haringey Borough FC have had some positive discussions around making the most effective use of facilities. We will continue to talk with the club about possibilities going forward.”

Coles Park has become an integral part of the Tottenham community over the last 80 years, with the ground’s current occupants’ association stretching back to its construction in 1930, when the club were known as Wood Green Town Football Club.

Since then, the ground has played host to the club under various guises, including Edmonton FC and Edmonton & Haringey FC. In 1995 they changed their name to Tufnell Park FC, before returning to the name Haringey Borough.

But the proposal may yet be contested by the club. Borough are leaseholders at the ground until 2025, and chairman Achilleas Achillea stated that while Borough would be open to a move under the relevant assurances, the council has no legal right to force them from Coles Park.

“We are legally secure here. We were granted a lease in 2000 which lasts until 2025, so I don’t see how they [the council] could move us, it’s a complete surprise,” he said. “That said, we wouldn’t completely close our minds to a move, subject to upgraded facilities.

“We’ve had problems with the pitch, which we’ve spent thousands of pounds on it in the last few years, and we have ambitions to move upwards. In that sense, if it secured our long-term future we would have to consider it.”

Borough first-team manager Tom Loizou agreed that a move to White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre would potentially benefit the club.

“It would be hard to oppose something better for the club, so under the right conditions it would make sense,” he said.

“Our facilities at Coles Park aren’t the best. It’s been a struggle the last few years, so under the right management we could potentially do all sorts, we’d potentially be opening the door to employing more people.”