Institute Football Club is closing in on securing its own ground after being confirmed as the preferred tenant for the proposed Clooney Park West Community Sport and Well Being Hub.
Stute were forced away from their previous Drumahoe home following severe flooding back in 2017, with the coronavirus pandemic then stalling their quest to secure a new stadium.
The Championship outfit currently play their home games at Derry City's Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, but have now taken a significant step in moulding their own identity once again.
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The Directors of Institute confirmed on Wednesday that the club has been notified by the Department for Communities that it is the preferred tenant for the proposed Clooney Park West Community Sport and Well Being Hub, which will be located in the Waterside.
The club submitted an expression of Interest for a long-term lease on the lands last month.
This confirmation is the first step in what is likely to be a three-year journey for the club as they seek to relocate and bring forward the development of a state-of-the-art Community Sport Stadium and Well Being Hub in the heart of the Waterside.
Confirming Institute’s preferred tenant status, Institute chairman Bill Anderson said: “We are delighted to be able to announce such positive news for our players, coaches, supporters, and the local community.
"It has been a long five years since we were forced to leave our ground in Drumahoe due to severe flooding, and then we had the Covid pandemic which really put everything on hold.
"Our club is extremely grateful to all concerned for enabling us to share the Brandywell Stadium during this difficult period. However, we can now look forward with anticipation and excitement to developing a first-class facility for the whole community, and a new home for the club, in Clooney Park West.
"As we strive to deliver our shared vision, we will remain committed to our community ethos, and we will continue to work closely with all current and potential stakeholders in bringing our vision to fruition.”
Institute's former Drumahoe home is located beside the River Faughan and suffered major damage following flooding in August 2017. The club was unable to return after an infestation of Japanese Knotweed.
Derry City and Strabane District Council planning committee unanimously approved the demolition of the stadium last summer.
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