Capacity: 6,000 (Seats 2,000)
Address: Wesham, Preston, PR4 3JZ
Telephone: 01772 682593
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: The Coasters
Year Ground Opened: 2016
Undersoil Heating: No

MILL FARM

After spending ten years at Kellamergh Park, the Club have moved four miles to the newly built Mill Farm Stadium, which is situated close to the M55. The move surprised a number of people, as the Club had invested a lot of money in Kellamergh Park, transforming what was at one time an open field at the back of a country pub into a ground with modern facilities and one which could accommodate up to 3,000 supporters. However the Club’s owners have aspirations of taking the Club into the Football League and felt that a new stadium was needed to match those ambitions. Certainly, the new stadium is of Football League standard and it would seem only a matter of time, but for the playing team come up to the same standard.

The thing that strikes you about the new Mill Farm Stadium, is that the build standard is of high quality; it certainly has not been built ‘on the cheap.’ Although currently with structures only on three sides, with the North End just having a small open flat standing area, there is plenty of space at that end for future expansion. The stadium is dominated on one side by the large Main Stand, which towers over the rest of the stadium. With a capacity of 2,000 seats, housed within a single tier, the stand is covered by a large roof, which is semi-circular in appearance.

The roof is placed quite high above the seating area, as above the seating section, there are two floors fronted by large glass windows. These areas are surrounded by black cladding, whilst further above there is a large clock, flanked in large white lettering; spelling out AFC Fylde. Overall the stand looks quite striking. Opposite is a small covered terrace, which runs the full length of the pitch. In keeping with the design of the Main Stand, it also has a curved roof. What is most striking feature of this side are the four large curved floodlight pylons that extend from behind the stand over the roof. These are quite unusual and I don’t know whether it was part of their design brief, but to me, they seemed to resemble a wave in outline. The remaining end is a fair sized covered terrace that like the rest of the ground is free any supporting pillars meaning that you can get a good view of the playing action.

The nearest pub to the ground is the Lane Ends pub on Weeton Road, which around a ten minute walk away. This pub offers food and also has live televised sports. In the centre of nearby Wesham, not far from the railway station are two pubs which are situated close together on Garstang Road’ the Royal Oak and the Stanley Arms.

If you are feeling hungry the also in the centre of Wesham on Weeton Road is the handy Wesham Chippy. Right by Junction 3 of the M55 and on the A585, is the Fairfield Arms which also offers food.