Blues have guests for two seasons

The Spartan South Midlands League's Reds are moving into New Lamb Meadow this summer after agreeing an initial two-year deal to share the Hitchin Road home of the EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central's Blues.

According to a statement released by Arlesey Town’s committee, their new tenants - who've been playing in exile at fellow SSML outfit Stotfold’s Roker Park ground for the last two seasons and secured a third place finish to their Division One campaign in April - will be welcome guests.

The Bedfordshire club's statement read: “We hope this association will be beneficial to both clubs in the long term and we ask the supporters of Arlesey to support this new venture and take our new house guests into our club and support them in the years to come whilst the first team are away.”

Baldock were denied promotion to the Spartan League in 2012 as their Arena ground was not suitable for Spartan South Midland League football before ground-sharing at Hitchin Town’s Top Field and then Stotfold since 2015.

Baldock chairman Graham Kingham said: “With the club aiming to progress through the leagues in the coming years, it was felt that the facilities offered at Arlesey Town would best suit our mid-term ambitions. I do hope that all our supporters will embrace this move and show their support at as many games as possible going forward."

The boost to the club's future finances comes after Blues officials announced they were "reluctantly" withdrawing Arlesey Town Reserves from the South Midlands League at the end of the 2016-17 season.

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