Truro City is delighted to announce a strategic partnership with fellow Cornish club Helston Athletic.
This exciting new arrangement between two of the Duchy’s most progressive and forward thinking sporting entities, will focus on the development of aspiring young footballers in Cornwall and the wider South West region.
For next season, Truro City’s South West Peninsula League Premier West side will groundshare with Helston Athletic at their Kellaway Park base.
This move has been necessary, to ensure maximum protection for the playing surface at the Truro City Stadium, as the first team take their place at non-League football’s top table for the first time.
Also, over the coming weeks and months, there will be further announcements around the club’s partnering with Helston, which will further strengthen ties between the two.
“We are really thankful to everyone at Helston, in helping Truro City continue their unwavering commitment to giving opportunities to young players in Truro, Cornwall and further afield too,” said Alex Black, Truro City’s head of football.
“As the first team progresses, we want opportunities for players to evolve, so the opportunity to play at Kellaway Park and be part of another local club’s infrastructure, is exciting and we are thankful to Helston for bringing both themselves and Truro City together.”
Meanwhile, Helston Athletic’s director of football Steve Massey, enthused: “This has been a partnership that has been a long time in the making. I think it was back in 2019 when Paul Wilkinson was in charge that I first approached Alex about a partnership between Truro and Helston.
“Truro have elevated themselves as the flag bearers of Cornish football with their success, so there is now a fantastic opportunity for players to play at the highest level of non-League football.
“This partnership with Helston Athletic will provide a pathway and opportunities for good youngsters, who want to play at that level and are ambitious.
“What we are putting in place together with Truro, will provide players with a stage to go and demonstrate how good they are.
“I am really proud to partner with Truro City, to come on a pathway journey that we hope will unearth talent and give them an opportunity, which is key.”
Massey, a former Truro City player and manager, added: “Also, I wish to thank Alex and Truro’s chairman and CEO Eric Perez, who have been supportive in the decision that Helston, as a club, have made.
“Their vision after we put the proposals to Truro City, along with their co-operation in this joint venture, was both encouraging and refreshing.”
The groundshare agreement, which will see South West Peninsula League football return to Kellaway Park after an absence of four years, has received the full backing of the league, along with the Football Association too.
“The move has full support from the SWPL,” revealed secretary Phil Hiscox. “We have been in discussion for the last couple of weeks with both Truro City and Helston Athletic regarding the groundshare agreement.
“The league and the Football Association have agreed to Truro City’s SWPL side moving to Kellaway Park, on the basis of games being played on a National League System compliant pitch.”
