WALTON Casuals chairman Tony Gale says a purpose-built new stadium in Waterside Drive will bring Ryman Premier League football back to Elmbridge.

Work is due to begin on the Elmbridge Sports Hub in March, which will eventually see Casuals, Walton Casuals Juniors, Walton & Hersham FC and Walton Athletics Club share state-of-the-art facilities next to the Xcel Leisure Complex.

The hub will include two full-size 3G football pitches, changing rooms, an eight-lane athletics track and space for around 250 cars to park.

The Stags, who are groundsharing with Merstham FC while the project gets off the ground, have endured mixed fortunes in Ryman Division One South, while the Swans – under former Casuals manager Mark Hams – are battling relegation.

But Gale believes the prospect of a new ground is helping with boss Anthony Gale’s recruitment plans for next term and if Casuals are not promoted next season they will be once they have settled into their new surroundings.

“We’ve got a good team and we will be strong next season,” said the former Blackburn Rovers defender.

“If it hadn’t been for a number of long-term injuries to the likes of Quincy Rowe, Max Fitzgerald and Rhys Paul – all centre backs – I think we would have been right up there.

“We have been recruiting players who want to stick around and invest in the club when we move back home. We are bringing players in who will be here long term.

“The ground is expected to be ready by the start of the 2017-18 season and it is going to be superb. Merstham have been great to us, but there is no place like home.

“We want a strong finish to the season, so we can start the next one with some momentum.

“We might not challenge for promotion next year, but the target will be getting to the Ryman Premier League in our first season in the new place.”

Casuals league clash with Whitstable Town on Saturday was postponed due to a water-logged pitch.

Casuals head to fellow strugglers East Grinstead Town this afternoon (Saturday).