THE ribbon was cut on a landmark new addition to Sidmouth Town Football Club as the season kicked off on Saturday.

A covered area for spectators at Manstone Lane was officially unveiled – and immediately earned its corn as the heavens opened after weeks of sunshine.

Club president, Councillor Stuart Hughes, did the honours and declared the facility open for supporters.

Committee members and backers of the Vikings were on hand together with town council chairman John Hollick, representing the trustees of the ground. The formalities included the presentation of a county council Investing in Devon plaque by Councillor Hughes to club chairman Colin Ralls.

The plaque, in recognition of a £5,000 grant from the authority towards the project, will be placed prominently on the stand.

Funding from The Football Trust and the club’s own funds also helped make the scheme a reality.

Club secretary Andy Argyle expressed his thanks to Mr Hughes, Devon County Council, The Football Trust and builders JTT Construction for their support of the ‘landmark ground development’.

The 2013/14 Sidmouth Town AFC team photo was also taken in front of the new stand with Jay Thorne, of main sponsors Harrison-Lavers and Potbury’s, and the afternoon continued with the first fixture of the new Carlsberg Peninsula League season against a strong Stoke Gabriel side.

The home side lost to the strong divisional favourites 4-1. See match report on page 63.