Ashford United co-owner Lloyd Hume working on plans to build new terracing behind each goal at Homelands

Ashford United co-owner Lloyd Hume intends to have new terracing in place at Homelands in time for next season.

The Nuts & Bolts are looking to build behind each goal to improve the matchday experience for fans.

Co-owners Hume and Dave Warr have invested thousands into the site since their takeover almost two years ago.

Improvements include main-stand renovations, a new bar area and parking for hundreds of cars.

New terracing is next on the agenda.

“We’re getting quotes to create our terracing at both ends of the ground, which is one of the commitments me and Dave made when we took over the football club,” said Hume.

“The biggest gripes from supporters we had when we took over were ‘we want car parks’, which they’ve now got, and they wanted proper terracing behind the goals, so they could watch the game from there with good viewing points.

“We’ve now engaged with a couple of builders, we’re getting quotes to create terracing at both ends of the ground and with the wind blowing the right way, when pre-season comes around, I really want them done.

“We’ve got covered terracing at both ends at the moment, but it’s pretty flat. You’re talking a couple of inches on the first step and an inch on the second step, so if you stand behind the goal, it’s not great viewing.

“We’re asking the builders to raise the first tier to fence height and then have another tier behind it.”

The work isn’t about raising capacity at Homelands, which Hume says is about 3,500.

It’s purely about the fan experience as Ashford look to attract and retain new supporters.

“If we need to raise capacity, we easily can because the wall behind the dugouts, we own seven metres behind there, so we can create whatever capacity we want,” said Hume.

“But I’m not