Progress is definitely the buzzword around the club at present.

The steel superstructure has now reached the halfway line and hopefully you will be getting a feel for the unique look of the new stand and the wavy roof which will be a feature of the development. Credit for this must go to Alexander Sedgeley for the uniqueness of their design which won us all over when we shortlisted three architects to present proposals. The first-floor precast flooring is now being put in place as is the terracing and TSP has started work on the new pumping system and the water tank which will harvest rainwater from the roof so we can recycle it to water the pitch.

Alongside this we have had an interesting few days selecting furniture for the new Chairman’s Suite, Boardroom, Sponsors’ Lounge and the new reception and offices. We have gone for a modern contemporary look… or should I say I have as it has been a struggle persuading my older superiors of the benefits of the modern-day furniture look and feel! The new retail store will be fitted out by our technical sportswear provider Macron UK as part of our ongoing agreement.

Next week Stonebridge Road will be awash with hundreds of concrete blocks as TSP start constructing the fabric of the building. As we move into the autumn/winter period this will certainly help to reduce the effect of the strong winds which have disrupted so many matches over the years because of our close proximity to the River Thames.

We are firmly on course to open the stand to supporters at the end of November and during that same month we will be releasing our promotional material around the various Lounge offers.