A CARNIVAL atmosphere surrounded Melksham Town’s last league game at the Conigre Ground last Saturday (Apr 30) as the club geared up for its summer move to a new stadium.

Almost 1,000 people packed into the Conigre to mark the end of the club’s 96 year stint at the ground before moving to the £7 million dual football and rugby stadium at Woolmore Farm next season.

Melksham Town lost 2-0 on the day against Barnstaple, who were given a guard of honour after the game and presented with the Toolstation Premier Division runners-up trophy.

Chairman David Wiltshire said: “It is the last league game that we will play here and we are delighted with how the town have responded.

“We wanted a record attendance and we have had about 200 more people come through the door than our last biggest gate.

“Some people are saying that the ground might lose its atmosphere but the new ground will be such a vast improvement on what we have now.

“This new hub for football will not only benefit more than 500 local players from the age of five through to 40 but the whole community in general.

“Our old club house held something like 60 people whereas the new one is going to have something like 220.”

Despite a series of delays since it was first tabled Woolmore Farm is set to be finished at the end of June with construction company Beard building the clubhouse and Kestrel the ground modelling.

There had been previous concerns over the development of the work after a colony of Great Crested Newts were discovered at the site, bringing plans to a halt, but after none were found, work finally got underway last year.

Youth manager of the under 9s Stuart Irons, 40, said: “It is the end of an era seeing Melksham Town move from the Conigre out to Woolmore.

“There have been so many really great memories of this place. The family atmosphere will definitely be missed and it has always made you feel welcome.

“However, you have to look forward and with the new stadium the club looks like it is going from strength to strength and you need to move on.”