'Celebrations' as new leader takes over stadium

Fans have been celebrating after it was confirmed that a football team's American owner will now run the club's stadium.

Frome Town Council agreed to lease Badgers Hill to a company set up by Courtney Fong, who is also chairman of Frome Town FC.

The deal includes an option for Mr Fong to buy the grounds in the future. Lester Silk, chair of Frome Town Supporters Club, called it "great, great news".

Mr Fong said: "We're committed to making Frome Town FC a club that thrives on and off the pitch, with a home that's open and welcoming to all."

Badgers Hill Stadium was bought by the council in 2022 after its previous owners ran into financial difficulties.

Fiona Barrows, the council's chair, said she now hoped Badgers Hill would become "a thriving, inclusive hub for sport and community".

Mr Silk said it was "all systems go now". He said it had been a "long, hard six months of work" to get the deal finalised, which ended in "a good celebration" at a local pub.

The club is calling his takeover "a new era" and said Mr Fong brings "a strong background in leadership and community development and will guide the Club's strategy moving forward".

Mr Fong lives in Chicago, USA and joined the board of directors of Frome Town FC in December 2024. His company, Badgers Hill Ltd, will pay the council £32,000 per year rent.

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