Your Questions Answered
Q. I picked up on a few things in the news recently like Laura Kyrke-Smith raising the petition re the stadium in Parliament, Graham Reed exiting and the club becoming community owned and the potential new community sports facility (which could feature a multi use stadium) as part of the Woodlands housing development on the Southeast of Aylesbury near the Holiday Inn/ A41 roundabout. A. We aim to share an update in the coming months, we are working very closely with local authorities on multiple locations, each having different challenges and timelines.
Q. Have you looked into any similar clubs who had struggled for a new stadium as inspiration? There look to be some similarities between AUFC and Dartford, Leamington and Oxford United (albeit OUFC are at a higher level). A. Before purchasing the club, we spoke to many non-league clubs that have been in our position in order to implement the most appropriate corporate structures for raising finance, qualifying for grants and building a stadium thereby enabling our return to the town as soon as possible. We also visited Slough Town yesterday who have had a similar journey.
Q. Have you considered doing any crowd funding or offering shares for people to buy? It might not fund the actual building of a new stadium but could help get planning permission and demonstrate local support to the council. A. The CIC will be offering community bonds in the next few months, there had been some delays in Companies House incorporating the CIC which has delayed this process. These bonds will sit alongside a full funding stack across Community, Commercial, Grants and Public Sector.
Q. Once you get a new stadium, how would you plan to move up the leagues? You’d think a town of over 70,000 people could support a National League or League 2 level club. A. Our strategic plan covers providing a facility that will allow us to achieve Step 2 football with further expansion thereafter. The increased revenue from operating in the town will provide a much higher budget thereby enhancing promotion opportunities. Creating pathways for local youngsters is also important, enabling them to play at a high level in the town rather than heading off to Wycombe, MK, Chesham, Slough etc. Wherever we end up building the stadium it will focus on more than just football, imagine a multi-use community sports facility promoting sport, training, education, inclusion, health and wellbeing.
Q. Where are all the options currently out of interest? A. There are some sites in the public domain that were mentioned by the previous chairman https://aylesbury.football/news/graham-read-statement. These are long term solutions at an early stage which we continue to progress. We are working on other solutions, due to confidentiality clauses I am unable to release details on the locations.
Q. How onboard are Bucks Council with a community sport facility with a stadium like you’ve referenced? I spoke with someone on the Aylesbury United stand at the Vale Park event in August last year and it seemed like there was some frustration at the lack of support from Bucks council at that time. A. I cannot talk for the previous regime, since my appointment as Chairman, the Managing Director of the CIC and I have found everybody at BCC and ATC extremely supportive of the proposals we have presented.
Q. From my research, there’s something called Section 106 where housing developers must build facilities (like community sports facilities) to win planning permission contracts. The council then owns these facilities and would charge operating companies like AUFC “peppercorn rent.” Then AUFC pays the operating cost of the stadium but you have freedom to rent out the pitch, the clubhouse as conferencing facilities or events, get sponsorship etc. Is something like that the likely plan for AUFC? Housing developer pays for it, council owns, AUFC operates it. A. It very much depends on the site we select but given it will be a community owned stadium then it may be possible to present a proposal that incorporates some Section 106 funding. We currently have different ownership models for different potential sites, including 100% privately funded. We are recruituing Non-Executive Directors onto the CIC board with experience in creating the funding stack, the stadium will be owned and operated by the CIC.
Please email your questions to info@aylesburyunited.co.uk and we will answer any we can.
Our Story
Aylesbury United’s long period without a home ground begins with one decisive moment: the 2006 eviction from Buckingham Road. Everything that follows is a story of survival, identity, and community resilience. Aylesbury United were forced out of Buckingham Road in 2006 after the stadium’s owners pursued a 3G pitch to generate additional revenue. At the time, these pitches were relatively new and did not appeal to the FA and League. The owners no longer felt the club was a viable concern and took the decision to sell the land for property development. The ground was subsequently left to decay, becoming derelict and unusable. This moment ended over 20 years of residency at a purpose-built stadium that had hosted FA Cup runs, the famous England friendly, and the club’s most successful era. With Buckingham Road lost, the Ducks entered a nomadic period, relying on groundshare agreements to survive. The club relocated to The Meadow in Chesham, around 15 miles from Aylesbury. This arrangement provided stability but removed the team from its hometown. A temporary move to Leighton Buzzard followed, again keeping the club alive but further distancing supporters. These moves were driven by necessity, not choice — Aylesbury United had no land, no stadium, and no realistic prospect of returning to Buckingham Road. In 2010, the club returned to Chesham United’s Meadow Ground, where they remain today. This period has now lasted over 15 years, making Aylesbury United one of the longest-displaced senior clubs in English football. Key impacts: •Identity strain — Aylesbury United play outside Aylesbury, yet represent the town. •Financial limitations — Groundsharing restricts revenue streams, matchday control, and long-term planning. •Community disconnect — Many supporters travel significant distances to “home” games. •Stadium campaign — The club and Supporters Trust have spent years working with local authorities to secure land for a new ground. After eviction, Buckingham Road fell into severe disrepair with the infrastructure stripped and the site left unused. Despite occasional rumours of redevelopment, the ground has never been revived. It remains a symbol of what the club lost. Aylesbury United’s “homelessness” is not just logistical — it has shaped the club’s identity, finances, supporter culture, and long-term ambitions. The Ducks have survived thanks to the Supporters Trust, volunteers, and a fiercely loyal fanbase. The club has recently moved into Community Ownership as we bid to reverse the decline. The CIC is tasked with bringing together a team of people who can deliver the expertise and funding necessary to build a Community Stadium that will not only facilitate the Ducks return to the town but also provide a state-of-the-art sporting facility the town desperately needs. If you can help, contact us at info@aylesburyunited.co.uk.