Talks are underway to build a new home for a town's football club after its stadium was closed over two years ago.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Gorleston Football Club have announced that they are working on a solution to bring Gorleston Football Club back to its roots with the development of a new stadium.

The Greens are currently playing at the home of Great Yarmouth Town FC - the Wellesley.

The scheme to have the Greens back home is called Project Bring Gorleston Back to Gorleston and both the club and council are considering all options available to support the club to ensure a long and sustainable future in the borough.

Supermoon over Emerald Park in 2017 taken by Mariah FeriaSupermoon over Emerald Park in 2017 taken by Mariah Feria (Image: Mariah Feria)

A spokesman for the football club said: “We are delighted to be working with Great Yarmouth Borough Council on finding a long-term solution for the club to have a home again in Gorleston.

"To have the club playing once again in Gorleston is so positive for the local community, and especially for the hundreds of footballers who represent the club on a weekly basis.

"As one of the largest football clubs in Norfolk from U6s to adult, boys, and girls, it is essential we sustain this vital community asset.”

Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Carl SmithLeader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Carl Smith (Image: Denise Bradley)

Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: ‘’We are absolutely delighted to be working with Gorleston FC to try to bring the club back to its hometown.

‘’This is the start of a process that will hopefully see the dream realised. There is a long way to go, but everyone is working hard to restore Gorleston FC to the town for the benefit of fans and everyone in the borough.

‘’The club plays a vital role in providing accessible sporting opportunities in the borough and we all hope this can continue long into the future in Gorleston.’’

The club spokesperson said no further details are currently available, but added more information would be shared as the work progresses.

HISTORY OF FOOTBALL IN GORLESTON

Sailor Brown playing for Gorleston against Leyton Orient at Highbury in the FA Cup - Robert Sailor Brown was player-manager at Gorleston in the late 1940s to late 1950s which included an FA Cup run which ended at Highbury Sailor Brown playing for Gorleston against Leyton Orient at Highbury in the FA Cup - Robert Sailor Brown was player-manager at Gorleston in the late 1940s to late 1950s which included an FA Cup run which ended at Highbury (Image: Archant Library)

The club moved to the Recreation Ground in Gorleston in 1889, with the first match at the ground played on November 9.

A record attendance of 4,473 was set in 1951 for an FA Cup first-round replay against Orient.

In 1982 the club left the Recreation Ground to move to Emerald Park in the town.

In July 2022 they left Emerald Park to play at Lowestoft Town FC for the season 2022/23.

For the 2023/24 season, the club reached an agreement with GYBC to use its stadium, The Wellesley, in Great Yarmouth and to lead on some much-required developments to the site to
ensure the stadium could meet FA requirements.