Stalybridge Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with Bower Fold Events Ltd to return the hospitality venue back to the control of the Club effective 1 June 2024.

The venue is a multi-purpose site that caters for educational needs, business conferences, weddings, birthdays, and other large events. With capacity for up to 150 guests and on-site parking it is a much sought after events venue in Stalybridge and the surrounding area.

The Club intends to make use of the facility on match days, and will continue to run events for both itself and the wider community on both a commercial, and charitable basis.

Stalybridge Celtic Chairman Nigel Jones said: “I’m really excited about us having full control of this fantastic facility ready for the start of next season. The venue will allow us to better accommodate our fans on matchdays, but also create an important and vital revenue stream that we need in order to place the Club on a more stable footing.

“Since Paul and I acquired our majority interest in the Club in the Summer of 2023, it’s been tough work trying to turn around a Club that was on a decline. But we’ve invested heavily to build a team that is near the top of the table, and we are now starting to make in-roads behind the scenes that are also starting to make a difference, with the support of our dedicated committee and group of volunteers. This additional investment we are making will only accelerate our ability to effect substantial change.”

Paul Bowden, the Club’s Finance & Operations Director added: “The Club is making further investment in order to develop and improve our matchday offering. We are extremely grateful to the Mackie family for their generosity in creating an affordable deal for the Club, and appreciate their investment and stewardship of the venue over the last few years.”

Wendy Mackie, Chief Executive of Works4U who currently occupy the property through Bower Fold Events Ltd commented: “As long-term supporters of the Club, our family are thrilled to be able to pass the venue back to the Club to run. We have made a substantial investment renovating the site, and we are delighted to have reached an agreement whereby we are able to support the Club financially, as well as on the terraces.”

The venue will continue to be run by Bower Fold Events until 30 June, and the Club encourages its supporters to make use of the facility ahead of the formal transfer. The Club can also confirm that it will honour any existing bookings made after 1 July, and it looks forward to taking bookings itself over the coming weeks.

The Club will also continue to take bookings for The Celtic Social Club, which is suitable for smaller events, with capacity for up to 80 guests.

Bookings for either venue can be made by contacting events@stalycelticfc.co.uk.