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      West Ham star to agree new contract despite being linked with Merseyside move where he is building a house

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      AARON CRESSWELL is ready to sign a new West Ham contract.The left-back has been linked with a return to his native Merseyside, where he is building a house, but the Hammers are keen to hold on to him.
      West Ham ace Aaron Cresswell has been linked with a move to MerseysideCredit: Getty
      Cresswell is set to sign a new West Ham contract during the summer transfer windowCredit: Rex
      Cresswell, 33, has played 331 Irons games since a £4million move from  Ipswich in 2014.
      But the three-cap Englishman will face stiff competition next season from Emerson Palmieri.
      Emerson got the nod ahead of Cresswell for West Ham’s Europa Conference League final triumph.
      West Ham are set for a significant revamp at the London Stadium during the summer transfer window.
      Read More on Football
      The Hammers are prepared to lose Declan Rice with owner David Sullivan confirming he has played his last match for the club.
      Arsenal appear to be in pole position for Rice’s signature despite having a £90million bid turned down.
      The Gunners are now ready to splash out a whopping £100m for the midfielder.
      The East Londoners want the guaranteed part of the offer for the England international to be paid in two instalments before 2025.
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      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
      And the North Londoners’ new proposal is expected to guarantee West Ham a fee in the region of £90m plus extra payments worth an additional £10m.
      West Ham are currently looking for possible replacements to fill in for Rice.
      Reports suggest David Moyes is keen on Fulham star Joao Palhinha as well as Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe. More

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      My flat looks into a former Premier League football stadium – you don’t need a ticket but have to put up with big issue

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      LIVING next to a high-rise building overlooking a football stadium can go two ways – you’d either love watching free games or get driven mad by the noise on match days. That’s the case for residents in the Valiant House apartment building, just a few metres from The Valley, the home of League One side Charlton Athletic F.C.
      The Valley with Valiant House, where residents are able to watch football matches from their flats, in the distanceCredit: Getty
      The stadium has been home to Charlton Athletic F.C. for the past 104 yearsCredit: Stewart Williams
      Those on the top floors of the building get an incredible view of the pitch and are able to watch games live from the comfort of their living rooms and balconies.
      Just five minutes away from Charlton rail station, the 27,111-capacity stadium in south-east London, which has been the club’s home since the 1920s, is surrounded by several houses and apartments.
      Some of the most memorable and iconic matches at The Valley include the team’s 4-2 victory against Chelsea in 2003, the first season since the Premier League club had been taken over by Roman Abramovich.
      The Sun headed down to the south-east London club for our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which celebrates the weird and wonderful stadiums across Britain… and the communities built around them.
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      Philippa Banse says she gets a good view of the pitch and is able to watch games from her balconyCredit: Stewart Williams
      Philipa’s high-rise block is just a few metres away from the stadiumCredit: Stewart Williams
      Full-time mum Philipa Banse, 31, who has lived in the building for the past two years, enjoys match days standing on her balcony.
      She told The Sun: “Living so close to the stadium is actually good because you don’t have to pay for a ticket.
      “From where I live, I can see the whole pitch – I just can’t see the goal. Apart from that, I can watch the whole game.
      “Some of the games I watch, but not all of them. If I hear shouting, or I hear “goal”, I may have a look to see who’s scored.
      Most read in Football
      “At first, the noise was a problem for me but I’m now used to it. The issue now is parking. When they’re playing, it’s not fair to the residents, especially when we want to get out.
      “One time we got told we’ve got to wait two hours before we can go out. But other than that, there’s no problem living near the stadium.”
      Not so lucky
      The 16-storey building was built in the 1970s and has two sections. Some living on the top three floors have a near-perfect view of the pitch – but others aren’t so lucky.
      One of the unfortunate ones is hospital worker Sophia Crowl – the only thing she can see are the fans in the stand.
      Sophia, who doesn’t have a view of the pitch, insists fans who attend games are normally ‘polite’Credit: Stewart Williams
      Some residents living on the top three floors of the 16-storey building have a near-perfect view of the pitchCredit: Getty
      “I can’t see the pitch itself but to be honest the fans can tell you what is going on. If they are quiet, it means the team is not doing well but if they are loud, and out of their seats, it means they’re playing well,” she says.
      The 34-year-old mother adds: “It makes me feel happy [living here]. I like hearing the fans chant and my daughter, she’s like ‘look Mummy, they’re screaming.’
      “On matchdays, there are police that come and make sure that everyone is behaving themselves. You don’t really see people hanging around here and misbehaving. They’re really just trying to get in and get to their seats.”
      While other stadiums may have an issue with rowdy supporters causing havoc on their streets, Sophia insists that has never been a problem here.
      She explains: “In terms of safety, it’s absolutely fine. The people that come to watch the games are polite. No one is ever rude and if anything should ever happen, there are enough police staff to help with that. It’s not a nuisance or anything like that – not to me anyway.”
      But another resident – who lives on Floyd Road, the same as the stadium, and wanted to remain anonymous – didn’t share Sophia’s positive outlook.
      She told us: “Let’s just say it’s very chaotic and extremely difficult.”
      ‘Busy and loud’
      Despite some people’s complaints, houses on the street are still well above the average house price in the UK at £550,000, according to Rightmove.
      Although circus performer Lilly Carrolle, 18, who lives nearby agrees that the street can be rowdy during match days, she insists she enjoys living in the area.
      “When there’s a game, it gets very busy and loud around here, she says. “Sometimes the roads are closed and you have people walking from all areas. When you’re driving it’s really hard coming in and out. It’s okay if you’re walking.
      Although it can get chaotic, Lilly Carolle says she enjoys living just a stone’s throw away from the stadiumCredit: Stewart Williams
      The stadium is surrounded by numerous houses and apartment buildingsCredit: Getty
      “I like living close to the stadium because I think it’s quite fun to see what’s going on and you can hear the cheering in the stadium.
      “But I suppose other people who aren’t fans of football may not like that kind of vibe. But I enjoy it.”
      Sean Hanley, who lives in Valiant House, appears nonchalant about the stadium being so close.
      Read more on The Sun
      He says: “I’m a bit of a Charlton fan but it doesn’t bother me. I’ve watched the games from my apartment a few times.
      “[The noise] doesn’t bother me too much either. I turn the TV up if I need to. I don’t mind living here.”
      Sean Hanley says if ever the noise gets too much, he drowns it out by turning up the volume of his TVCredit: Stewart Williams
      While some residents were pleased to be in close proximity to the stadium, others were not so enthusedCredit: Stewart Williams
      From the ground floor of the building, residents are able to see the fans in the standCredit: Stewart Williams
      Most residents we spoke to at Valiant House said they enjoy living so close to the stadiumCredit: Stewart Williams More

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      We live at famous entrance to iconic football stadium – you can see pitch from our garden but there’s even crazier perks

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      ITS iconic mock Tudor facade is one of the most recognisable stadium entrances in British football.And for residents near Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth F.C., living next to the historic ground has thrown up plenty of famous moments over the years.
      Wendy Waltho lives by Fratton Park Stadium, home of Portsmouth Football ClubCredit: Solent
      Local Diana Hill says she can watch the game from her daughter’s roomCredit: Solent
      Some homeowners say their home shakes when the team scores, or claim there’s no need to buy match tickets as they can hear – and even see – all the action from their garden.
      Our new summer series, Life’s a Pitch, celebrates the weird and wonderful stadiums across Britain… and the communities built around them.
      Kicking it off, die-hard Pompey fans who reside a stone’s throw from Fratton Park tell us of their joy at feeling the ‘electric’ atmosphere created by fans every week.
      They recall seeing the 1980s squad being put through their paces by manager Alan Ball in fitness runs to the old training ground – and even boast of being able to enjoy free music concerts from their back yard.
      READ MORE FEATURES
      Garden party
      Some claim Fratton Park is unique as it is the only professional English football ground not found on the mainland of Great Britain – due to its location on Portsea Island.
      Built in 1899, it has been Portsmouth’s home ever since and seen the highs and lows throughout the club’s 125-year history.
      During that time the club has won two first division titles and two FA Cups – most recently under Harry Redknapp in 2008 – but Pompey are currently enduring a more difficult period in League One.
      Kieran Hogan, a resident living by Fratton Park, says he loves it and can hear the cheers when a goal is scoredCredit: Solent
      Lifelong Pompey fan Kieran Hogan has lived for nine years on Frogmore Road, which leads up to the South Stand entrance.
      Most read in Football
      “We love living this close to the stadium,” the 40-year-old said.
      “I don’t have a season ticket but I like to go whenever I can, round some mates up, or sometimes go by myself.
      “If I don’t go, I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC Sport.
      “You can hear the cheer sometimes seconds before the goal goes in on the telly.”
      I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC SportKieran Hogan, lifelong Pompey fan
      Recounting his experience of the Covid-hit play-off semi final, Kieran says he was disturbed by controversial Portsmouth super-fan John Westwood trying to get as close to the action as he could.
      “I was sat in the garden watching it, as I’d taken the TV out,” the father-of-one said.
      “And I could hear this bell ringing and I looked down the gardens and John Westwood was there at the neighbours’.”
      Kieran’s next wish is to get his newborn eight-week-old son to a game “as soon as I can”.
      Training day
      Derek Stevens, 65, who has lived on a road that runs parallel to the south stand of the stadium for 39 years, said the ‘only issue’ is matchday parking – when parking is only permitted on one side of the street, meaning cars have to be moved.
      The civil servant recounts seeing England’s World Cup winner Alan Ball whipping the the Portsmouth squad into shape during his five-year tenure in the 1980s, which saw them earn promotion back to the First Division.
      Derek Stevens admits the parking can be an issue on match daysCredit: Solent
      “Alan Ball used to make them run to the training ground which was at Moneyfields then, about 1.5 miles,” he said.
      “He got them into shape – it was funny to see the players on our road being put through the paces, but he did well here.
      “They were out of shape when he got here but he made them fit.”
      Kenneth Clarke, who lives on the same road, loves being a part of the club he played for as a boy in the 1960s.
      The retired milkman, 78, said: “We’ve been here 35 years and love it.
      “I go to about half the games. The parking is fine, it’s for emergency vehicles to get through, don’t moan about the club. If you don’t like it – move.”
      Family affair
      For Wendy Waltho, attending the matches at Portsmouth is a family affair, with husband Paul, son Harvey and grandson Franklyn all season ticket holders.
      “It’s manic on a matchday,” the 56-year-old said. “Sometimes I do go if it’s an exciting game, but I can hear it from the garden where it’s free. Why would I go?
      “It’s great, my husband and son love going – they’d never stop.
      “The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to come.”
      The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to comeWendy Waltho, local resident
      Wendy, who has lived in her property just 50ft from the South Stand entrance for 19 years, added: “For a 3pm kick off, they leave at about midday.
      “It doesn’t take three hours to get there – I think the pub might be involved.
      “But, when it’s not matchday, it’s dead quiet.”
      The street’s quietness on days other than when Portsmouth play is the main reason David Young bought his home home 20 years ago.
      The 39-year-old said: “During matchday it can be a bit hectic, but on days off, kids play in the street.
      “You can’t get that anywhere else in Fratton, we love it here.”
      The restaurant manager admitted he ‘hated’ football, but used to enjoy going to games when tickets were reduced for residents in close proximity to the stadium – a perk which stopped about eight years ago.
      “In a derby game against Southampton, I had a brick thrown my front window during a riot – that made them separate the fans in the future,” he added.
      Pitch view
      Diana heard a Madness concert taking place at the stadium from her gardenCredit: Solent
      Diana Hill moved into the neighbouring road in 2015 and can even see a portion of the pitch from her son’s bedroom.
      The 41-year-old said: “The atmosphere is absolutely electric on game day.
      “You can feel the electricity amongst the fans and when Pompey score, the house literally shakes.
      “We love it, we can see a little section of goalpost, but they’re redeveloping it at the minute.”
      The mother-of-three admitted she and her family received the perfect welcome when Madness played a gig at the stadium in the summer of 2015.
      Read more on The Sun
      “We didn’t have to go, we just sat in the garden and got a free Madness concert,” she said.
      “The club have been great recently as well in providing equipment for street parties over the Jubilee and Coronation.” More

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      Premier League legend Robbie Keane and his wife win fight to kick OAP out of their £3.8m mansion as she owes £300k rent

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      PREMIER League legend Robbie Keane and his wife have won a £300,000 fight to kick an OAP out of their £3.8m mansion.The former Spurs and Ireland striker, 42, and his TV star spouse Claudine have been locked in an emotional three-year court battle.
      Robbie Keane and his wife Claudine have been locked in a three-year court battleCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Sandi St Paul and Stewart Lawrence have been renting out their family homeCredit: Champion News Service Ltd
      The gated five-bedroom mansion is situated in HertfordshireCredit: Champion News
      Fashion boss Sandi St Paul, 74, and her musician friend Stewart Lawrence have been renting out their family home in Hertfordshire since December 2019.
      This week the Keanes told Central London County Court the pair owe them nearly £300,000 in back rent.
      Mrs Keane, 42, a former Miss Ireland contestant, claimed she had been reduced to tears and was left ‘begging’ for access to her home during the row.
      The ex-footballer and his wife let their house after Mr Keane secured coaching jobs in Middlesbrough and Ireland.
      Read More on Sport
      They became more and more at odds with Ms St Paul and Mr Lawrence, who was a drummer for sixties icon Donovan, after rent payments stopped in April 2020.
      Ms St Paul, who as well as being a property developer has run a string of fashion boutiques, told Judge Heather Baucher that she and Mr Lawrence had withheld rent on the £8,000-a-month house.
      She alleged they had been left with ‘no heating or hot water for two winters’ by their famous landlords, adding that she felt the stress of the situation had led to her having a stroke.
      But the judge has now ordered her out of the house – on pain of being evicted by High Court sheriffs.
      Most read in Football
      Ms St Paul and Mr Lawrence were also handed a bill for £292,192 rent arrears, plus £70,000 towards Mr and Mrs Keane’s legal fees.
      The gated five-bedroom mansion boasts extensive gardens and a cinema room.
      Mr Lawrence moved out of the property around a year ago, leaving Ms St Paul, who was his guarantor for the rent, in occupation of the house, although she was not named on the tenancy.
      Ms St Paul, who attended court in a wheelchair and without a lawyer, accused Mrs Keane of ignoring ‘heartfelt emails’ which she and Mr Lawrence sent pleading for an out-of-court ‘resolution’.
      Mrs Keane explained tensions had been ramped up to fever pitch when there was a serious leak at the property and workmen were refused access to fix it.
      “When there was a leak I begged you to let workers in and you refused. I cried on that phonecall and begged you ‘please don’t destroy my property’,” she said.
      Of Mr Lawrence, she added: “We were told because he was a famous person we were not allowed to have his telephone number. We have never seen him. I’ve never been offered any money.”
      Ms St Paul, in reply, said that if she didn’t answer the door to tradesmen it was because of her health problems.
      “I was hospitalised twice and had to take bed rest,” she said. “If somebody were to knock on the door I wouldn’t hear them from my window.
      “Nobody was ever refused entry to that house. We’ve never been anything less than pleasant to anybody who came round even after my second stroke.”
      The court heard that Mr Lawrence had countersued the Keanes in a bid to offset the rent arrears against alleged failures to make repairs to the property, including a faulty entrance buzzer and to the underfloor heating system which Ms St Paul slammed as ‘absolute rubbish’.
      But the judge dismissed the counterclaim due to lack of evidence supporting it.
      Read more on The Sun
      Striking out the bid to offset the back rent, Judge Baucher said both defendants had failed to engage with the owners of the house to ‘allow access to assess disrepair’.
      Speaking outside court after the hearing, Ms St Paul said: “Somebody said he was in football. I hate football.”
      Mr Lawrence moved out of the property around a year ago
      The ex-footballer and his wife let their house after Mr Keane secured coaching jobsCredit: Rex More

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      Ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou seals first deal as new manager of Tottenham – and sells his stunning luxury home

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      EX-CELTIC boss Ange Postecoglou has bagged his first home win since quitting Parkhead by selling his luxury Australian home.The £1.8m Tuscan villa had only been made available on the transfer market last month.
      The villa sits near a Melbourne suburb known as BurnleyCredit: Kay and Burton
      The Tuscan style mansion offers huge living spacesCredit: Kay and Burton
      The gaffer had an upstairs study to plot transfers and tactical movesCredit: Kay and Burton
      But a wealthy buyer has already snapped up the swanky property in a swish Melbourne suburb.
      Postecoglou, 57, had kept the keys to the massive mansion during his spell in Glasgow but it emerged he was offloading it three weeks ago.
      Down Under estate agents Kay and Burton have now listed the property as sold on their website but no further details have been released.
      The pad boasts access to an indoor swimming pool and spa as well as a powder room, interior courtyard and outdoor eating areas.

      It also has an upstairs study, two large en-suite bedrooms and a walk-in wardrobe which all open out onto a stunning wraparound balcony overlooking the garden’s pond.
      Kay and Burton said: “Unparalleled in luxury and quality, this opulent villa also features a powder room, laundry, ducted heating and cooling, security alarm, secure video intercom, double garage and access to Villaggio’s indoor swimming pool, spa and gym.
      “Nestled amidst established gardens by renowned landscape designer Paul Bangay, the magnificent two-storey residence benefits from its own street frontage and has been architect-designed to create the feel of a Tuscan villa while also maximising light, style and resort-style tranquillity.
      “Stepping into the home through the ornate loggia, the soaring ceilings, gorgeous American Oak parquetry flooring and sandstone features hint at the meticulous attention to detail and refined European interiors within.”
      Most read in Football
      It boasts an outside dining space and courtyardCredit: Kay and Burton
      The island kitchen was one of the stunning selling pointsCredit: Kay and Burton
      Postecoglou has agreed a four-year deal with north London side Tottenham Hotspur.
      The gruff gaffer shattered Hoops’ fans hopes he would stay in Glasgow despite winning a domestic treble.
      Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play.
      “He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our club.
      “We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead.”
      He has also targeted Celtic No2 John Kennedy for his move and has been linked with a £20m bid for Kyogo Furuhashi.
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      We live next to a Premier League stadium but we hate it – we’re trapped in our homes, traffic is a nightmare & it’s loud

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      RESIDENTS living next to a former Premier League ground say they hate it – with road closures, traffic and noise among the nightmare problems.Thousands of home and away fans flocked to the King Power Stadium to see Leicester City play every week – before the Foxes’s relegation from the Prem last month.
      Leicester residents said match days are ‘horrible’Credit: Reuters
      The Foxes have been relegated from the Premier LeagueCredit: PA
      Now locals in the area around the ground have revealed that they are “trapped in our homes” on match days.
      Mum-of-three Shannen Kamara, 26, said: “It’s horrible when the football’s on.
      “This road is just blocked with hundreds of people when they’re leaving and they shout and make a lot of noise.
      “Sometimes, if it’s a late match, it’s after the kids have gone to bed and it disturbs them.
      Read More Football
      “One time someone was going along the street kicking bins over and the police were nearby but didn’t do anything.
      “I’ve been here three years and I really want to move to somewhere else.”
      One woman said: “The worst thing is all the traffic restrictions. It’s a real bugbear of mine.
      “It’s like being trapped in your home, unable to leave.”
      Most read in Football
      Another resident said: “It’s s***. When a match is on you can’t park at all – it’s just the worst street in Leicester.”
      George Lopes, 35, said: “The people coming through on foot are okay most of the time but after some games there’s a bit of fighting and swearing.”
      Other residents looked on the bright side – emphasising the neighbourhood’s bus stops, hospital and parks.
      It comes after residents living near another Premier League ground said that parking is a nightmare and that fans keep damaging their cars – but cops won’t help.
      Homeowners living inside a major football ground said that they can watch games from their attics – but life in the stadium has a downside.
      And locals said that living next to an iconic Midlands ground is a nightmare – with disrespectful fans leaving rubbish everywhere and blocking drives. More

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      My flat overlooks major football stadium – we can watch every game but there’s an unexpected problem about living here

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      FOR die-hard fans, the thought of owning a flat overlooking your team’s football pitch is a dream come true.That was the case for lifelong AFC Wimbledon supporters David Kenwery and Liam Nolan when property adjoining the club’s brand new stadium became available.
      Blocks of flats adjoin the AFC Wimbledon stadium in south west LondonCredit: Rex
      The development was supposed to provide ‘affordable’ homes for people struggling to get on the housing ladder – with the added perk that some flats overlook a football pitchCredit: Olivia West
      The friends bought a fourth floor two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat off-plan built within the grounds of the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Plough Lane – despite the fact neither of them live anywhere near it.
      Offshore wind farm site manager David is based in Hull, while IT consultant Liam, who grew up in the area, now works in Adelaide, Australia. 
      But both men regularly make the trip to south west London to watch the EFL League Two team they have supported for 40 years.
      Flats like David and Liam’s now go for a hefty £570,000 – however David, 60, tells The Sun: “For a football fan, homes built into a ground is about as good as it gets. 
      READ MORE FOOTBALL STORIES
      “How could I resist having a home next to the ground for match days?”
      But living above AFC Wimbledon’s pitch can come with some strange quirks – including one particular rule.
      On a residents forum for the flats, tenants claim they’re forbidden from hanging washing out on their balconies.
      Some of the flats offer a fantastic view of the pitchCredit: Getty
      Residents of the flashy Stadia apartments say the ground rent has rocketedCredit: Cascade News
      And when we visit, some tell us their ground rent – a maintenance fee for house buyers – has DOUBLED since they moved in, making their monthly costs now the same as a typical mortgage.
      Most read in Football
      Some tenants living in the flashy Stadia apartments run by Galliard Homes claim that as well as coughing up £500 a month in fees, they are being asked to pay a whopping £25,000 to use one of the spaces in the underground car park.
      Meanwhile people living nearby the new stadium claim their weekends can be fraught with hassle, with regular traffic jams and fans blocking drives and using their front gardens as a toilet.

      One young couple said they had paid £750,000 for a three-bedroom flat in the new development, where the shared ownership deals on offer meant some buyers only had to pay a portion of their home’s full value.
      The woman, 27, who declined to give her name, said: “Moving here allowed us to buy our first home so we were happy and grateful for that.
      “But they doubled the ground rent after we moved in, from £350 to £700, which was not what we were expecting.
      “We complained and it has now come down to about £500. But that’s still the same amount that some people will spend on their entire mortgage!”
      Like David and Liam’s, the couple’s apartment has a direct view of AFC Wimbledon’s pitch, which means they get a free view of the team’s games when they play – but they “don’t see it as a perk”.
      Some flat owners have moaned they can’t hang washing on their balconiesCredit: Olivia West
      Traffic can be grid-locked on match daysCredit: Olivia West
      The woman’s partner, also in his 20s, adds: “We can see the pitch from our window but – let’s be honest – they’re not the best football team.
      “Another issue is that they’re demanding £25,000 to buy a parking space in the flats, which is completely unaffordable.
      “And it seems that no-one here wants to pay that as the car park is always empty. It’s ridiculous.”
      Before they were unveiled a few years ago, developers Galliard Homes boasted that around a third of the 604 homes would be available through shared ownership, which would provide “luxury living to all levels of buyers”.
      The fact that a number of the apartments overlooked the football ground was also a key selling point – with AFC Wimbledon fans in particular keen to snap up the homes.
      Emotional return
      The Plough Lane stadium’s completion marked an emotional return for a football club that had been torn away from its natural home since 2002.
      That was the year the Football Association agreed the old Wimbledon F.C. could relocate 60 miles north to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire to prevent it from going bankrupt.
      The players were dubbed the ‘crazy gang’ in the 1980s because of their FA Cup winning heroics – upsetting Liverpool in the 1988 final – and the antics of club heroes like midfield hardman Vinnie Jones.
      So morphing into a new team called the MK Dons was never going to be accepted by the majority of supporters.
      Those that boycotted the move created AFC Wimbledon in its place and a window of opportunity emerged when Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium closed in 2017.
      The new AFC Wimbledon stadium is built on the site of an old dog trackCredit: Olivia West
      Planning permission was won for a stadium to be built on the 12-acre site just 250 yards from the club’s original ground that closed down 30 years ago.
      Galliard Homes agreed to stump up £14million for the new 9,300 capacity ground on the proviso that a number of apartment buildings would be erected alongside it.
      The company claimed that with one-bedroom flats on offer from £425,000, it would be affordable for both first time buyers and local parents looking for buy-to-let opportunities.
      But the romantic vision of a small club finally finding a home isn’t shared by some who live in the area.
      Adam Pfeiffer, 52, lives on a small private road opposite the new ground and reminisces about the peaceful weekends he used to enjoy before the club returned.
      Mechanic Adam says: “It’s a nightmare living here now and I don’t even like football.
      “The fans take the p***. They park wherever they want and litter all over the street. I regularly spot people using my front garden as a toilet on weekends.”
      On ‘event days’ you have to pay £3.20 for one hourCredit: Olivia West
      Business owners like Andrew Yeates are getting cheesed off with the new stadiumCredit: Olivia West
      Kris McKnight runs BB Plumbers close to the stadium. He says: “The dogs stadium was falling to bits so I guess they needed to do something, but it’s a shame that they got rid of it.
      “It was the last dog track in England and it was a great night out when you won.”
      Business owners are also getting cheesed off with the new stadium because they are now being made to pay £3.20 an hour for parking on match days.
      Andrew Yeates – director of the local Balloon and Kite Company – says: “The only real impact is the parking restrictions.
      “On ‘event days’ you have to pay and display for one hour and that makes parking more difficult. 
      “We have to pay for the hour when we are working and then move it around, or we have to park a long way away.
      “The biggest complaint I have is that you don’t always know when it’s an event day so you can get caught out. If you don’t know, you get a ticket, it’s that simple.”
      ‘Traffic is gridlocked’
      Roldan Aquino says the new development is a nightmare for traffic in the area, which was already congestedCredit: Olivia West
      Roldan Aquino, 50, helps run a food truck opposite the stadium where gourmet burgers cost £9. 
      He says traffic is frequently gridlocked around the new stadium.  
      “It can be a nightmare some days,” he says. “When there are temporary traffic lights here for whatever reason, it completely kills the business – people can’t get through and a 10 minute drive takes about three hours.”
      But not every business owner is downcast about the new development. Ania Ridley, 40, is landlady at the The Corner Pin pub where a pint of lager costs £5.10.
      She says: “I’ve worked here for 21 years and when the stadium was first built, I was worried because we all know what football fans can be like. 
      “But the ones that come here are really nice and polite – they even apologise if they spill their drinks.
      “And the development has brought in new people and younger people into the area, which is great for the pub.
      “It used to be mainly old people popping in for a drink but we have a younger crowd now and they are more likely to spend money.  
      “I think the new flats have given the whole area a boost.”
      The landlady of The Corner Pin pub, Ania Ridley, has welcomed the new developmentCredit: Olivia West
      A spokesperson for Galliard Homes said: “The Wimbledon Grounds development has been a resounding success, offering significant benefits to the local community.
      “One of the notable achievements of this project was the successful return of AFC Wimbledon to Plough Lane, made possible through our financial support and the generous gifting of land to the football club.
      “The Wimbledon Grounds development was undertaken as a joint venture partnership with The Peabody Trust, previously known as Catalyst Housing Association. Due to this partnership, we were able to achieve a significant increase in the number of affordable housing units, rising from an initial 60 to an impressive 181. These units were subsequently transferred to Catalyst Housing Association, who oversaw the sales and management of them as shared equity properties.

      “Parking was offered as an additional cost, due to the limited number of parking spaces available for the private units. Most spaces were held by Catalyst Housing Association for use of the affordable units.
      “The ground rents for the properties were determined in the traditional manner, based on the size of each flat. The initial rate was set at 0.1% of the property price, followed by a nominal peppercorn amount in subsequent years.” More

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      We live on the site of a famous old Premier League ground – fans flock to our homes but we love it… here’s why

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      RESIDENTS living on the site of an old Premier League ground say fans flock to their homes – but they love it.Almost 35,000 people packed the stands for the last time in 2003 and the ground was bulldozed.
      A view of the ground’s former centre circle in the new housing developmentCredit: Getty
      Almost 35,000 people packed the stands of Maine Road for the last time in 2003Credit: Alamy
      Many pose in front of street signs that include Blue Moon Way – a nod to the famous song chanted by supportersCredit: Getty
      City’s Shaun Goater (left) and Alf Inge Haaland (right) sandwich Derby County’s Seth Johnson (centre) at Maine RoadCredit: PA
      But that hasn’t stopped fans flocking to Maine Road, now a development of 474 homes, to get a sense of Manchester City’s history.
      City moved to the City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad Stadium.
      Many pose in front of street signs that include Blue Moon Way – a nod to the famous song chanted by supporters – and Kippax Street, which gave its name to Maine Road’s much-loved Kippax stand where fans including Noel Gallagher once stood.
      A plaque commemorating the club’s ex-groundsman also sits where the centre circle used to be.
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      City only won two top-tier titles while playing at Maine Road – compared to the six Premier League crowns at their new stadium – but it will always hold special memories for many supporters.
      Blues fans Lisa Johnstone and Bruno Nunes say it was a ‘dream move’ relocating to the estate in 2015 and it retains the ‘community’ vibe fostered by club.
      “We lived in Wythenshawe and wanted to find somewhere in south Manchester that was affordable,” said Lisa, 40.
      “And the fact it used to be City’s old ground was obviously a big draw. There’s real sense of history living here.”
      Most read in Football
      Lisa said the ‘strong sense of community among residents is nice because City used to be a community club’.
      She had friends and family that lived in the area and recalls going to matches as a youngster and the club handing out tickets for matches to local schools.
      City stars including Kevin De Bruyne have visited the nearby primary school, she said, and Noel Gallagher was also spotted there after filming in the area.
      Manchester City moved to the City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad StadiumCredit: Alamy
      The ground was bulldozed and is now a development of 474 homesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      A plaque commemorating the club’s ex-groundsman also sits where the centre circle used to beCredit: Getty
      View of the Kippax and North Stand at Maine RoadCredit: Alamy
      She added: “There’s a real mix of people living here, families, young professionals, people from different places and backgrounds.
      “It’s a great location and I think it’s become a desirable place to live.
      “It also feels very safe which is good because the area – Moss Side – got a bit of a negative image in the 1980s and 1990s due to all the gun crime, which led to Manchester being nicknamed ‘Gunchester’.”
      Bruno, 39, originally from Portugal, praises the community facilities, especially for children, and also loves feeling part of City’s history, despite originally being a Benfica fan.
      “I remember the old stadium and where we live now is round the corner from centre circle and near old Kippax stand,” he said.
      “Other fans come to visit and I spoke to some from Ireland the other week as they walked around and took photos next to the street signs.”
      Other residents, such as Arek Bartniczak, 40, were initially unaware of the City connection when they moved to the estate.
      The father-of-two, originally from Poland, said: “I only found out when I was a setting up a bill payment over the phone and mentioned I was living on Blue Moon Way,” he said.
      “‘Oh, you must be City fan,’ the person asked. But I like the area, everyone is friendly and my two children are both happy at school.”
      He said the only downside was the complicated lease arrangement on properties, with a company sub-leasing from the council, leading to service charges and some residents having legal issues and problems with repairs.
      Mother of-two Vanessa Saleh, 46, was a first-time buyer with her husband and moved to the estate after renting in nearby Whalley Range.
      “It feels a happy and safe place to live,” she said. “We wanted to stay in the local area and these houses were more affordable.
      “My children, who are six and seven, attend the nearby primary school which is great.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Plans to paint Blue Moon Way – the main road through the housing development – never materialised but fans can still feel nostalgic when they visit, even hopping on board the 111 bus that goes to and from the city centre or visiting a local chippy.
      Maine Road may be gone, but it won’t be forgotten. More