Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane celebrate winning Division One South
Shaw Lane AFC have announced that they are looking for a new home after reaching a “parting of the ways” with Barnsley Rugby Union Club.
Division One South champions Shaw Lane have had a ground-share agreement with the Rugby Club for a few years, but the last couple have been littered with pitch problems despite the glorious success that Craig Elliott’s team has enjoyed.
Shaw Lane secretary Dave Exley said: “The rapid progress that the club has made in recent years has no doubt been helped by the co-operation that we have received from Barnsley RUFC.
“We fully understand their position and the review has made our club look at its future needs with emphasis on continued growth.
“As we rise up the leagues the agreement with Barnsley RUFC would be more difficult to maintain, therefore we must look elsewhere for a facility with potential to develop.
“Negotiations with all parties on timescales and potential partners are moving quickly and once a decision has been agreed we will of course notify our loyal fans.”
Rugby manager Paul Matthews said: “It would have been wonderful if the ground share agreement had worked for us all, but partly due to Shaw Lane AFC’s continued success their needs have become more than we are able to support, and sadly in trying our best to support them we have run the risk of alienating our loyal fan base.
“We are fully committed to running a rugby club that is accessible to all ages and demographics, and to rolling out a strategy that develops the sport and in order to do that we need to have full access to our pitches and training spaces.”