A weekly car boot sale at the centre of a row that forced an Angus junior football team to fold is to be resurrected on another site.
Arbroath FC have agreed to allow the regular event to be held on Sundays at their Gayfield stadium, after the previous landlords Arbroath Sporting Club went under, meaning the usual venue, Seaton Park, could no longer be used.
An Angus Council demand for an increased share of the income from the car boot sale led to the junior team calling time, coupled with the fact they were due to be evicted from the ground at the end of next season.
Left without a pitch, car boot vendor Kevin Warden got in touch with Arbroath FC seeking a new home, and was delighted when the club agreed to help.
He said, “This is great news for car booters in Arbroath and the surrounding areas. The car boot sales actually bring a lot of business into the town and at Seaton Park there was anything between 100 to 180 cars and vans coming in every week.
“There are people who come down on the Friday and maybe go out on the Saturday night and stay over for the sale on the Sunday.”
The first sale will be held this Sunday, with a percentage of funds from the entry fee going towards the Lichties’ four youth teams, which cater for children aged 12 to 16.
With admission priced at £7 for cars and £10 for vans, the venture has potential to generate thousands of pounds for the club over the course of a year.
Mr Warden said, “This creates a win-win situation as it will attract visitors to the area on Sundays as well as benefiting Arbroath’s youth football teams.
“I used to help run a similar size one in Dundee and we took around £17,500 inside 18 months. It is going to take a wee while to build this one back up but the response I have had so far has been unbelievable.”
Arbroath FC chairman John Christison said while it was sad to see Arbroath Sporting Club fold, the car boot sale had the potential to provide an additional source of income.
“I suppose it is fair to say that when one door closes another one opens,” he said. “I believe the club were approached by a regular at the Seaton Park car boot sales, who was obviously looking for a venue.
“We can’t afford to close our eyes to anything and we have got to make sure we are looking at any option that will bring in money to the club. Hopefully it will be successful and provide another source of income for us.”