Sussex football club rename ground in honour of NHS

Action at Hanbury Park, which will be named in honour of the NHS for the new season / Picture: Grahame Lehkyj

Haywards Heath Town will call their Hanbury Park HQ The THANK YOU NHS STADIUM for the 2020021 season.

A club statement added: "This reflects the gratitude of everyone associated with the club of the hard work by all NHS staff during the Covid-19 pandemic."

Town announced the move on Twitter and Facebook and received a positive response, with one of Sussex's best-known football figures, Dean Cox, among those to congratulate them on the initiative.

Other clubs also praised the idea.

Situated in Haywards Heath is one of the region's major hospitals, The Princess Royal. And a club spokesperson said that while the club were continuing to support local schools and key workers, it was felt that renaming the ground was the best show of thanks to all NHS staff.

"While the Premier League clubs and players can have the ability to show with grander gestures how grateful they are to the NHS, Haywards Heath Town FC felt this was an appropriate way for us to do so," said the club.

"When the new season starts, we will be showing our appreciation to all the key workers whose hard work during this crisis should not be forgotten."

Hanbury Park Stadium was built in 1952 and was opened by FA Secretary Sir Stanley Rous shortly before he became President of FIFA. This will be the first season the ground will be known as anything other than Hanbury Park.