A new Skills & Education Hub at Lincoln City FC’s LNER Stadium is starting to take shape.

The steel frame of the extension to the existing Stacey West stand is now complete.

It follows extensive groundworks, which have included a new mains water supply, increased power supply, and a state-of-the-art pitch irrigation recycling system.

Once complete in August 2024, the new building will provide the Lincoln City Foundation with the facilities and office space to expand its social impact work in the local community. New matchday stadium toilet facilities will also be integrated with the existing Stacey West stand.

As part of the work, a new 70,000 litre tank has been installed at the stadium. This will be filled with rain water from the pitch and the roof, via the new irrigation system. The water will then be reused on the pitch. Recycling rainfall in this way will save the club thousands of pounds on its water bill as it relies less on mains supplies.

Richard Shaw, Lindum Group Director, said: “It is fantastic to see the progress being made at the Stacey West project, with the new frame giving us a good idea of what the finished building is going to look like.

“It is important to us that we can not only provide a dynamic space for the Lincoln City Foundation, but also help the club lower its environmental impact and running costs. We are very much looking forward to the completion of the extension and becoming part of the history of the Stacey West stand and the stadium as a whole.”

Now the steel frame is finished, work can begin on the brick work and concrete floor slab. Bricklayers started on site at the end of August, giving the people an idea of what it will look like when it is finished.

Damian Froggatt, Director of Operations at Lincoln City Football Club, said: “After four years of planning and having secured over £2m in funding, we are delighted to see construction work well underway. The new build will provide over 1500 square metres of dedicated new space from which Lincoln City Foundation can expand its vital social impact work, further establishing Lincoln City Football Club as a true community club.”

The work also coincides with the club’s ongoing plans to invest in other infrastructure projects such as safe standing.

The development is costing £2.6 million and £839,000 has come from the Be Lincoln Town Deal. The remainder has come from Football Foundation, EFL Stadia Fund, the Youth Investment Fund and Lincolnshire Co-op as well as almost £400k from a private bond holder scheme – the Stacey West Investment Bond – launched in partnership with the Red Imps Community Trust.