Centuries-old club ignites hope with sweeping plans to revive Park Avenue

Aberystwyth Town Football Club has set its sights on a bold transformation of its historic Park Avenue home, submitting comprehensive redevelopment plans to Ceredigion County Council that promise to reshape the future of football in mid Wales.
The proposal, crafted by JMS Planning and Development, seeks full planning permission for the demolition of the current main stand and the creation of a new clubhouse, turnstile, changing rooms, business unit, and significant improvements to both seated and standing terraces, including new roof canopies and enhanced accessibility throughout the site.
This move follows a 28-day public consultation and underscores the club’s ambition to deliver “facilities of the highest standard, fit for the next generation of football in mid Wales,” as stated in planning documents and echoed by Club Chairman Donald Kane, who remarked, “This has been a huge undertaking by the club to date, working toward a vision to provide high-quality facilities that are fit for the future, accessible to all, and inspire the local and regional community to continue to build upon their support for the club going forward.”
Founded in 1884, Aberystwyth Town is one of the oldest football clubs in Wales and a founding member of the Cymru Premier, having never been relegated since the league’s inception in 1992.
The club’s men’s senior team enjoys strong community support, with attendance figures rising in recent years and matches regularly broadcast on S4C and streamed worldwide, reflecting the growing interest in Welsh football on both national and international stages.
The Football Association of Wales has recently introduced a new league structure and strategy aimed at boosting commercial profile and competitiveness, with UEFA licensing requirements driving the need for modern facilities—something the club’s redevelopment aims to address, ensuring it can continue to host European matches and serve as a vital resource for other regional teams that rely on its all-weather pitch.
The first phase of the project includes a new clubhouse and community facility, a 310-seater stand, replacement turnstile and ticketing office, new changing rooms, a business unit, and the reconstruction of a dedicated disabled viewing platform, all designed to promote inclusivity and step-free access.
The plans also feature the formalisation of “Nark’s Corner” as a covered standing terrace, enhanced spectator seating, and improved disability provision, while a future phase envisions residential development adjacent to the ground.
Planning documents stress the urgent need for investment, noting the deterioration of the existing main stand and changing rooms, and highlight the club’s commitment to equality and inclusivity, stating, “The development also promotes equality and inclusivity for both male and female players and officials, who will benefit from segregated and modern changing facilities, in accordance with the requirements of the Football Association of Wales”57.