Edinburgh City set for Meadowbank return in 'major step' for club

Edinburgh City have announced they will be returning to the redeveloped Meadowbank from the beginning of next season.

The New Meadowbank Sport Centre will be home to Edinburgh City. Pic: Lisa Ferguson

The Citizens have been using Capital rivals and Lowland League outfit Spartans’ Ainslie Park since July 2017 after the former Commonwealth stadium was closed later that year.

The club’s last-ever match at the old venue was April 29, 2017, when Derek Riordan scored a 90th-minute winner to see off Stirling Albion in the penultimate game of the 2016/2017 campaign – City’s maiden season as an SPFL club.

However, the new state-of-the-art facility – that includes a brand new 4G pitch and 500-seater stand – will reopen its doors this autumn and the League Two outfit are delighted to have reached an agreement with Edinburgh City Council and Edinburgh Leisure that will see them return to their spiritual home.

The club has also confirmed that an agreement has been reached in principle that could see a second stand built on the north side of the pitch to accommodate an additional 1,500 supporters.

“For much of the last four years it seemed that a return to Meadowbank was not going to be a viable option for the club,” chairman Jim Brown explained. “However, over the last six months it became very clear that there was a strong willingness from the both the council and Edinburgh Leisure to work together to get us back to the venue.

“Everyone has bought into the vision that we have for the club moving forward and having our own home is a major step towards this. On behalf of Edinburgh City, I would like to thank everyone involved in the negotiations for their hard work and determination which has made this possible.”

Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Edinburgh’s new Meadowbank will be one of the country’s top community sports centres when it opens and will feature some of the most state-of-the-art fitness facilities where a real variety of sports and activities can take place.

“We very much look forward to welcoming Edinburgh City back to Meadowbank and our fantastic new 4G pitch and new facilities.”

Brown was also quick to offer his gratitude to Spartans for the use of Ainslie Park over the past four seasons.

He said: “It has been a pleasure working with Spartans over the past few seasons and everyone at the club would like to thank chairman Craig Graham and the rest of the team for everything they have done to make us welcome and help with all our matchday and training arrangements.”

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