Walton & Hersham home games face an Elmbridge cost dispute

By GlobeBids Local News Desk
Published 13 August 2026 | Source: Elmbridge Borough Council

Walton & Hersham FC’s scheduled home league fixtures can still go ahead this Saturday and Tuesday, Elmbridge Borough Council says, but the club must address matchday arrangements including stewarding costs.

In a statement published on 13 August, the council said the club had not re-signed its Key User hire agreement for Xcel Sports Hub and had sought to pass additional costs, including stewarding for its first home match, to the council. The council said those costs have been met by the club or other external hirers since the venue opened in 2017.

Matchday stewarding remains the club’s responsibility

Elmbridge said it had reminded Walton & Hersham FC that matchday costs remain its responsibility. The position was endorsed, according to the council, by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s Sports Stadium & Spectator Safety Officer, who has overall responsibility for matchday safety.

The council said it was not in a position to directly subsidise the semi-professional club, which it described as a private company, because it must spend public money responsibly. It said the existing hire agreement remains available, while a short-term agreement could cover the first few fixtures if negotiations continue.

New £300,000 pitch investment at Xcel Sports Hub

The disagreement follows Elmbridge’s recently completed £300,000 investment in a new 3G pitch at Xcel Sports Hub. The council says the surface was installed to help Walton & Hersham compete at a higher level after promotion to National League South, while continuing to serve local clubs, groups and residents.

Places Leisure, the council’s leisure contractor, has also offered sponsorship support, the statement said. Earlier council updates said the club benefits from a reduced hourly hire charge and that maintenance, cleaning, running and utility costs are covered.

Talks over future arrangements continue

For supporters, the immediate position is that the upcoming fixtures are not being ruled out by the council. Elmbridge said there was no reason the Saturday or Tuesday games could not proceed if the outstanding matchday arrangements were addressed.

The council said discussions with Walton & Hersham FC and Places Leisure over longer-term commercial arrangements remain ongoing, while noting that Xcel Sports Hub recorded more than 200,000 visits last year and is intended to remain a community facility.

Source: Elmbridge Borough Council