First look at Cornwall’s ‘stadium’ as it nears completion for Truro City FC’s season

The dream of a stadium for Cornwall may be dead and buried, but a new ‘stadium’ has risen from the ground on the same site and is due to be completed soon. A lack of funding and a private investment partner ended plans for a 10,000-seater venue for Cornish Pirates and Truro City Football Club near Truro last year.

However, Truro City decided to go it alone, largely using funds provided as part of the deal to sell its Treyew Road land to create what is now a Lidl supermarket. It used the site of the proposed Cornwall Stadium at Langarth, near Truro Park and Ride, to build a sparkling new ground.

And while no completion date can be set yet, it is expected to be the home of the White Tigers for the start of the 2024/25 season in August.

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Following promotion to the National League South, the club endured a turbulent season with City having three different ‘home’ venues. They began by sharing facilities with Plymouth Parkway before that agreement ended in February. The home games were then moved to the home of Taunton Tow, but the wet winter weather saw the team fail to play a home game in Somerset and in the last two months of the season they moved the games to Gloucester City.

Despite the nearly 400-mile round trip, not to mention playing eight home games in 14 days, the team secured survival in Step Two of the National League System for 2024-25.

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Meanwhile, it also applied for planning permission for a 3,000-capacity ground – with the potential to grow to 4,000 – last year as part of a Truro Sports Hub with seating, parking, a running track three meters wide from the A390 through the neighbourhood. Langarth Park and Walk and potential for a community building and clubhouse with changing facilities. Planning permission was obtained in February. Read the full story and full details of the planned facilities here.

It is now down to final works and finishing touches, with stands, lighting and other significant elements already in place, with an initial capacity of 300 seats – in the club’s traditional red and black. You can get an overview in a video shared with CornwallLive by TCFC, which you can watch at the top of this article.

The ‘North Stand’ structure was completed with all the seats, dressed in the club’s traditional red and black colours, being installed. Behind the east gate (covered) are now installed, along with perimeter fencing for the playing area, stands around the pitch and men’s, women’s and disabled toilets.

The floodlights are now installed on four corners of the pitch and are fully functional, having passed all the necessary tests.

Proud and “so excited” club chairman Eric Perez gave a full update, writing on his website: “I want to start by wishing Paul Wotton all the best at Torquay United and I think he will do a great job great there. we managed to stay up, with so many games in a row without a break last season, with the busy schedule, to put the club on everyone’s radar and on Paul’s.

“It was no surprise someone came in so soon after the end of the season but we rolled with the punches. He has done a great job for us and we wish him well but the show must go on for Truro City . on.

“We are on a serious search for a new manager and there has been a lot of interest and very interesting interest. We hope we can provide another update with great news soon.

“At the new ground, which I visited in person last week, the seats are shiny and the grass is green – it’s so exciting to see it go up. I went to the dirt in March and there was a lot of dirt, but now it looks like dirt.

“I couldn’t be more excited about it as it’s going to be a great place to watch football and it’s what Cornwall deserves. The second phase of the ground is almost complete with beautiful stands in place and standing. It’s going to be the best ground in Cornwall by a country mile and one of the best outside the Football League.

“The new venue will be fan-friendly as we want the fans to have a great time. The food will be great, the drinks and whatever you want. If you’re coming to Truro City to spend your money, we want to treat you to a great day out.

“It is our responsibility to provide that and we will provide that. Football is coming home and it will be home because Truro City had a nomadic existence before we took over.

“Ultimately we want to build a strong base in the community and create a clear pathway from under 7s to the first team. We want Truro City to become a comprehensive club and not just a team.”