Crusaders unveil stadium plans

New engage Super League club Celtic Crusaders have announced plans for a new 15,000-seater stadium to be built on disused land in Bridgend.nnThe Crusaders are currently based at Bridgend’s Brewery Field, but the ground lacks the facilities which the club feel are necessary for Super League success.nnThe new stadium will be built on a former prisoner-of-war camp at Island Farm, and will include a conference suites and other corporate hospitality.nnCeltic Crusaders’ chief executive David Thompson said that the club had to progress if it was to be success in its three guaranteed years of top-flight rugby league.nn“The Crusaders are now playing at the elite level in the UK,” he said. “We are committed to providing our fans with a new state-of-the-art stadium and facilities worthy of the borough, the club and Super League. nn“Having won a Super League licence for three years, people may have expected the club to sit back. nn“But we are continuously striving to push the club forward and looking to improve wherever we can as evidenced by this application.”nnThe new stadium would be part of a £40m 130-acre Island Farm sporting Village, which would include a rugby union pitch, a football pitch, a boxing gym and community facilities.nn“We are delighted at the prospect of having our new Crusaders stadium as part of the development and helping deliver something truly special within Wales,” continued Thompson. nn“As we have seen elsewhere, the development of a new stadium can be difficult and at times drawn-out. nn“However, we have now taken the first formal step and I am confident that HD Limited and its partners will be able to drive this project forward. It remains a very exciting time for the Crusaders and Bridgend.”nnHowever, the proposals may be protested by local people who formed the Island Farm Action Group to campaign against the use of the site by the Welsh Rugby Union for a new rugby union academy.nnThose plans were accepted by the Welsh Assembly, but were rejected by Bridgend County Borough Council after the Labour administration was replaced by a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and independents. nnCeltic Crusaders, the first Welsh club in Super League, were one of fourteen clubs given a three-year Super League license in August.