FC Halifax Town’s Shay Stadium could be taken over by a community-led group under a new bid lodged with Calderdale Council. Stewart Charnock-Bates, a property consultant and lifelong Halifax Town fan, is pushing for a not-for-profit model to run the ground for the benefit of Calderdale’s 200,000 residents. The Shay currently hosts just 1,500 fans for football and rugby, leaving most of the borough underserved.

What’s being proposed?

Charnock-Bates and his wife Beverly, both from Sowerby Bridge, have submitted a community asset transfer to Calderdale Council. Their plan would hand The Shay to a not-for-profit organisation controlled by local residents via a one-member, one-vote system. Two other bids are also in play: one from Tony Wood of Halifax-based Roxor Group, who wants to set up a community trust, and another from a consortium of Halifax Panthers directors aiming to collaborate with key stakeholders.

Stewart Charnock-Bates, who has supported Halifax Town since age five, told the Halifax Courier: “We’re people of Halifax, we’re business people of Halifax. It was always wrong for the council to consider transferring the freehold. The Calderdale community would have been living on promises without any security.” He added that his family has been involved with Halifax Town in some way for 100 years, a connection he claims no other bidder can match.

Why this matters for FC Halifax Town

The Shay’s current usage sits at just 1.5% of Calderdale’s population on matchdays, despite the ground’s size and facilities. Charnock-Bates highlighted gaps like Halifax Ladies and Halifax Girls playing in Bradford due to lack of local infrastructure. His proposal aims to modernise the stadium’s offerings, including women’s and girls’ football, walking football, and disabled sports, while keeping the existing football and rugby clubs at the heart of the project.

League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 8th in National League, 70 pts, 20W-10D-16L from 46 games, recent form WLDDW. The bid argues The Shay’s 200,000-capacity borough deserves better utilisation of a prime town-centre asset.

How the community would benefit

The proposed community benefit society would give locals direct control over The Shay’s future. Charnock-Bates stressed the model removes profit motives, stating: “People might say ‘what’s in it for you?’ It’s going to be a not-for-profit organisation, we don’t want anything from it.” He framed the move as correcting past mistakes and tapping into a market long overlooked by the stadium’s current setup.

What happens next?

Calderdale Council is reviewing all three expressions of interest. The council confirmed it received bids from Charnock-Bates, Wood, and the Halifax Panthers consortium. No timeline has been set for a decision, but Stewart Charnock-Bates insists his group is ready to act swiftly to secure The Shay for the community. Last result: Woking 0-1 FC Halifax Town (2026-04-25).