CARLISLE UTD’S FLOOD-DEVASTATED GROUND RESTORED THANKS TO LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP
Monday, 29 February 2016
Carlisle United FC has thanked a local construction company for working round the clock to help restore its water-logged stadium in time for a crucial FA Cup fixture.
The club said Esh Border Construction went “above and beyond” to help restore Brunton Park after it was devastated by Storm Desmond in December.
The massive deluge across Cumbria left a large section of the ground under several feet of water and a trail of costly damage, amounting to an initial £1million of repair work.
The team were forced to play their subsequent home games at Blackpool, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers, while club staff had to work remotely.
However, with a homecoming league clash in prospect against York City on January 23, and £250,000 in lifeline revenue beckoning from an imminent FA Cup tie against Everton on January 31, the club faced a race against time to re-open Brunton Park.
Keen to support local business and desperate to meet the crucial deadline, the League Two side appointed Carlisle-based Esh Border Construction as main contractor on a first phase of repair works, aimed primarily at getting football played in the stadium once more.
It focused on the restoration of dressing rooms, electrics, running water and catering, working steadily across the Christmas and New Year period.
After successfully meeting the deadline, Carlisle United personally thanked Esh Border Construction’s Contracts Manager Richard Harris after inviting him onto the pitch in front of the home support for their clash with York City.
The re-opened Brunton Park also crucially went on to host a sell-out 17,392-capacity crowd for the visit of Everton – its biggest attendance for 27 years.
The club’s Sales and Marketing Director, Phil King said:
“Esh Border Construction came with a great reputation, and they lived up to it, immediately getting started during the festive holidays with pre-planning and then getting on with the job in hand, delivering a really fast turnaround against a tight deadline.
“We’ve nothing but praise for them – it was a really fantastic effort and they went above and beyond to make the ground playable again. The attention to detail was incredible.
“They also helped us to host one of our biggest ever attendances, so we were delighted to have the chance of thanking them personally in front of the fans, who gave them a big cheer for their hard work.”
Esh Border Construction’s Regional Managing Director, Simon Phillips said:
“We were only too pleased to help Carlisle United restore Brunton Park back to working use, and as a local company, it became much more than just a job for us.
“Some of our own staff had been badly affected by the flooding, and so we were passionate about getting involved and doing everything possible to alleviate the problems.
“While it was essential to get the stadium back on its feet, it was also clear that the club’s upcoming fixtures had taken on huge importance, both financially and in terms of raising morale for the whole community.
“Just as the worst of times so often bring out the best in people, our team worked hard around the clock in close partnership with the club, going the extra mile and undertaking long hours to meet the deadline.
“It’s particularly pleasing that in doing so, we also helped Carlisle Utd generate much-needed income at such a crucial time.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely in partnership with the club in the near future.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
- Border Construction had 143 employees and has over the last few years successfully delivered a number of construction projects across a wide range of sectors including education, health, public buildings, social housing and commercial build including award winning projects such as Robert Burns National Birthplace Museum in Ayr (£10m), the extension and refurbishment of Trinity School, Carlisle (£18m), Denton Holme Student Village, Carlisle (£10m), Abbotsford House Visitor Centre, Melrose (£3.2m) and five new Fire and Rescue Stations throughout Cumbria, (£13m) as part of the North West Fire and Rescue PFI Project.
- The company was acquired by Esh Group in April 2014 and is now a delivery arm of Esh Construction Ltd.
- Esh Construction delivers an extensive range of services including Property and Facilities Management, Civil Engineering, and Property Refurbishment and Build for the affordable housing sector and wider public and private sectors.
- Representing the significant operational core of Esh Group, in 2014, Esh Construction Ltd delivered a turnover of £253m and profit before tax of £9.1m.
- Esh Group provides construction and construction-related services to both public and clients. It directly employs over 1,200 people with substantial operations in an area from Central Scotland to Northern England from local offices in in Cumbria, Northumberland, Central Scotland, Scottish Borders, County Durham and Yorkshire. Services delivered include brownfield remediation, civil engineering, design and build, refurbishment, fencing, landscaping, plumbing, facilities services, social housing, private housing and commercial development.
- ESH Construction consists of:
Esh Border Construction construction services in Cumbria, North West England & Scotland
Esh Property Services social housing new build and regeneration
Esh Facilities comprehensive buildings maintenance services
Lumsden & Carroll Civil Engineering ground works and civil engineering
Esh Build commercial new build
DEVELOPMENT BUSINESSES: Esh Developments, Dunelm Homes, Esh Acorn Homes
SPECIALIST BUSINESSES:
Bartram Walker mechanical + plumbing installation + maintenance
Remedios innovative diagnosis brownfield remediation services
Deerness Fencing + Landscaping landscaping, fencing manufacture + installation
Green Energies energy saving, heat + power
Esh Training Solutions employment + construction related skills training
Mechplant operated + non-operated plant hire
Stephen Easten Specialist Building historic buildings restoration
ESH CHARITABLE TRUST support for communities, education and young people funded through Esh Group resources
Issued by Beattie Communications on behalf of Esh Border Construction
