Member Article

NE law firm advises award-winning sports charity on its goal for a new home

Brentford FC’s award-winning Community Sports Trust is preparing to move into new facilities adjacent to a new multimillion pound stadium next summer, thanks to expert legal advice from leading North East law and sports specialist Muckle LLP.

The move into all-purpose facilities as part of the development of Brentford FC’s new 17,250 stadium represents the fruition of years of collaboration between the Football Club and the Community Sports Trust.

All the legal, project and contractual work has been provided by Muckle LLP’s sports team based in Newcastle, which originally helped the football club set up Brentford FC Community Sports Trust in 2005 and has continued to advise the trust with legal advice over the last 14 years.

For the first time in its 32-year history, Brentford FC’s community programme, which obtained charitable status in 2005, will occupy brand new facilities boasting community sports offices and a flexible education, health and creative hub when it moves from its existing base near Griffin Park stadium to a new home, less than one mile away.

John Devine, Muckle LLP Partner and Head of the Sports Team, led the project for the Community Sports Trust and Real Estate Partner Libbie Henderson provided all the contractual property work, with Construction Partner Lucilla Waugh advising on facilities development matters.

John Devine said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust spanning over 14 years. Our team of specialist lawyers works regularly across the UK in the sport sector, so we are therefore delighted to continue supporting the team at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust. We hope everyone associated with their impending move to the new stadium can look forward to an exciting new future.

“The Community Sports Trust undertakes vital work in the community of Brentford and surrounding Boroughs including Hounslow, Ealing, Richmond and Hillingdon, so we are delighted to have played a small part in ensuring this excellent work continues to grow and expand with inclusive and accessible new sporting facilities.” he added.

Lee Doyle, CEO of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, said: “We’re very excited to be able to move into the new base – enabling us to build on our grassroots community sports programmes and support more local people across west London.”

“We have worked well with John and the Muckle team for over 14 years. They are now assisting us with our involvement in the roll-out of The FA and Football Foundation’s Parklife facilities project at nearby Gunnersbury Park.”

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust is affiliated to and supported by Brentford FC and will occupy its own dedicated buildings on the same site as the new 17,250 capacity Brentford Community Stadium near Kew Bridge station, west London.

The new stadium and associated development commenced in 2018 with the club’s development partner – and new principal partner for the 2019/20 season – EcoWorld London, and its stadium contractor Buckingham Construction Group Limited.

The Brentford Community Stadium development is an important part of the wider regeneration of the area known as Brentford East. It will deliver a stadium together with more than 900 new homes, a new purpose-built location for Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, and a public square with shops and cafes.

With community work spanning three decades, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has established itself as a pioneering organisation for the local community. It uses the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire people from all walks of life.

Working in partnership with Brentford FC, the trust offers a portfolio of programmes in education, health, sports participation and community engagement.

The trust has won the ‘Football League Community Club of the Year’ award four times and now employs more than 100 members of staff.

Independent legal directory the Legal 500 ranks Muckle LLP top of the league for sport and it is the only law firm in the North of England that’s currently recognised in this sector.

Clients range from grassroots to professional clubs and national sporting organisations, such as The Football Association, Sport England, England Athletics, the Guinness Premiership and Super League. It has also recently acted for London Irish FC, who will also play their matches at Brentford Community Stadium, on the formation of the London Irish Foundation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Banks .