The stand had stood for sixty years having been bought from Harry Ramsdens where it had been used by spectators listening to the brass bands of the time. The structure was insured and the assessors have inspected the damage which has been cleaned up and made safe by the Club's main sponsors OHS Ltd who have also issued a Safety Certificate.

The club has two options; either refurbish the existing structure or replace it with a new stand. With wooden stands now subject to stringent safety requirements as a result of the tragic events at Valley Parade over two decades ago, the second option seems the more likely choice. How long this will take and what temporary facilities will be put in place in the meantime remains to be decided, but the website will bring you the updates on the key events as soon as they are released by the club.

Listen to Chairman Phil Rogerson comments on the Non League Show Podcast which should be available until the end of this week.

Serious damage was done to the main seated stand at Guiseley AFC in the early hours of Sunday morning when a suspected arson attack destroyed approximately half of the main seated stand. The fire which started in one corner of the stand is believed to have been started deliberately as there was evidence of unlawful entry to the ground via a makeshift ladder made of a safety barrier that was left against the perimeter fence adjacent to the stand.

There has been a history of unlawful under-age drinking in the stand which the local police appear to have been powerless to stop and the introduction of regular visits by a professional security firm has also failed to curb this activity. The club however stress that this set-back will not be allowed to stop the staging of their opening day fixture when Guiseley will take on Cammell Laird in a UniBond Premier Division fixture with a 3 pm kick off.