16 hours ago
Football fans bemused by ground's new name
UNUSUAL: Councillor Mel Allcott has said she is not in support of the decision to rename the football ground in Claines Lane the Diary of a Debt Collector Stadium (Image: Newsquest)
FOOTBALL fans are bemused by a ground's new name.
City football ground Claines Lane has been renamed The Diary of a Debt Collector Stadium in a move which has mystified fans and nearby residents.
The banter broke after Worcester Raiders said its ground would carry the name of its new sponsor.
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Football fans in the city have been dumbfounded by the name change and have taken to forums to express their views.
Cllr and former mayor Mel Allcott says she feels the name is an unusual and unappealing choice that is "very distant from football."
She said: "It is an unusual name to choose for a stadium. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue easily.
"The people of Claines may be slightly bemused. Obviously Worcester City football club have moved away from there now so I can see a reason for a name change but I think the people of Claines might find it slightly bemusing."
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Cllr Allcott, who is a Worcester City fan herself, added: "I think people will not remember it either. It would have been nice if they kept it linked to Claines, I think people will still call it Claines Lane.
"I am not in support of the name, it would not be my choice. It just doesn't sound very appealing and feels very distant from football."
The CEO of debt collection firm, Diary of a Debt Collector, is Adam Heighway, who has been newly-appointed as a non-executive board member of Worcester Raiders.
Raiders chairman Steve Harris said: "We're delighted to welcome the Diary Of A Debt Collector team on board. Their ethos around recovery, accountability, and community perfectly complements the values we uphold at the Worcester Raiders.
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"The newly renamed Diary Of A Debt Collector Stadium will serve as a hub for thousands of players, coaches, referees, and fans each season — a symbol of shared ambition and local pride."
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We have made numerous attempts to get in contact with Worcester Raiders but have received no response.
Diary of a Debt Collector, Worcestershire FA and Worcester Raiders declined to comment in response to the fans and Cllr Allcott.
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Raiders have switched from Sixways Stadium to Claines for the upcoming 2025/26 season, when they will play in the Hellenic Premier Division in step five, the ninth tier of English football.
Their switch came as Worcester City FC made the opposite change. At the time, Mr Harris considered leaving Sixways Stadium to be a bitter blow, saying he was kept in the dark about City moving in.
"It is a bitter blow for us," he said, after the news of Worcester City moving over came to fruition. "We had no idea. It was a complete shock to us. We checked with Sixways, they couldn't tell me anything and the announcement came later that day."
Raiders since signed a 10-year lease to play their football in Claines.
