A series of new community events is being planned to make better use of the facilities at Melksham Town Football Club, starting with a Coldplay tribute night next month.
Club Managing Director Kate Stevenson says the initiative is part of a broader effort to make the football club a real hub for the town.
“We’ve got fantastic facilities here, and we want to make the most of them,” said Kate. “For too long, it’s felt like the club has just been about football – but this is a space that can offer so much more for everyone in Melksham.”
The Coldplay tribute evening will be the first of many new events, with plans in place for regular live music, carveries, children’s parties and other community gatherings. The club hopes to host two live music events a month in the club’s Sky Bar, welcoming up to 200 people each time to enjoy entertainment, food and a friendly atmosphere.
“This is really just the start,” Kate added. “Once we see how this goes, we’ll build on it. We want people to see the football club as a real community centre, somewhere for everyone, not just football fans. By opening up the club and hosting events, we can bring people together and generate new income to support everything we do.”
The club has also recently undergone change on the pitch, parting ways with its first-team manager Mark Collier and bringing in club stalwarts Luke Ballinger and Dave Thompson as joint managers. “We know that not everyone was happy with the decision but we think it was in the best interests of the club going forward,” said Kate. “Despite the difficult decision, the focus now is firmly on stability and positivity both on and off the field.
“Running a football club is incredibly expensive – particularly now at Southern League level – and we have to think about the bigger picture. These new plans are a way of bringing in new sources of income which we can use to improve the team and help us push forward on the pitch.”
Club Director and Chairman Adam Young also commented, “We’re really optimistic about the future and we hope these community plans will help more people discover what the club has to offer.
“There are still people in Melksham who’ve never been up to the ground. When they do, they’re always surprised by how great the facilities are. We want to change that – we want to put ourselves on the map and provide something of real benefit to the whole community.
“Our Youth Section is as strong as it’s ever been and with the events planned, we can move the club forward to where we all know it can be.”
The Coldplay tribute night is on 7th November. “Experience the magic of Coldplay with Live in Technicolor – the UK’s best Coldplay tribute band,” says the club. “With stunning attention to detail, this top-tier tribute act captures the heart and soul of Coldplay’s biggest hits, from Yellow and Fix You to Viva La Vida, The Scientist, and beyond.
For tickets and more information, visit the club’s Facebook page.
