Weymouth buy back Bob Lucas Stadium land after 18 years

The most consequential pieces of non-league infrastructure work rarely involve concrete. Weymouth have bought back the land around the Bob Lucas Stadium in the club's own name after 18 years, with ambitions to build a full-size 3G pitch on it. Land secured first, football later: that is the order these things tend to happen in.

The same principle applies at Yarm & Eaglescliffe, who have signed a 25-year lease at Allens West with SPARK Education Trust to secure a permanent home. A planning application has been submitted to upgrade the facilities at the site. Widnes Town are at the other end of that process, hoping to have more information soon on a new temporary home ground.

Where tenure is settled, the work turns to maintenance and expansion. Princes Park has marked 20 years since it opened on 11 November 2006, and Dartford Borough Council has agreed to replace the roof and cladding on Dartford's home. Avro have installed protective safety padding on the retaining wall beneath the main stand at the Vestacare Stadium, funded by the Premier League Stadium Fund — unglamorous, and exactly the sort of job that keeps a ground certified.

Two new stands come into use. Cray Wanderers' new structure behind the goal at Flamingo Park opens to spectators for the first time for the Stockport County tie, while Ashford United's new stand at The Green Box Stadium will be up and running for the league fixture against Margate. Dover Athletic have installed two new LED scoreboards at Crabble, funded by fan donations, fundraising events and matched contributions from Megger and NewsTeam, following a campaign led by Dover Athletic Community Trust.

At St Mawgan, the new floodlights are set to be officially switched on at 7.30pm at home to Wadebridge Town, who presented their hosts with a momento to mark the occasion at Trevarrian Park. Alvechurch have completely refurbished their ladies changing rooms with funding help from the Football Foundation, and youth football has returned to Hampton & Richmond Borough's Beveree top pitch after more than 20 years following pitch works. Six covered padel courts open in December at Ilkeston Town's New Manor Ground.

Stand dedications have also taken place at two grounds. Heaton Stannington unveiled the Bill Colwill Stand as a permanent tribute to their former chairman, and Godalming Town's main stand has been officially named The Jane Phillips Memorial Stand.