Playing in front of the home fans is something that every athlete relishes.

For the first time in a year, the Billingsley football team will be able to do just that after constructing new home and visiting bleachers at Mims Field.

The former bleachers were condemned two weeks prior to the start of the 2017 football season, which meant that the Bears had to play their designated home games at Marbury High School.

The new bleachers are aluminum instead of concrete and include a press box at the top of the home portion. A sidewalk leads up to the bleachers.

“It looks really nice out there,” Billingsley head coach Marvin Morton said. “We’re still doing some tidying up, but we’ll have it ready for the season.”

A community initiative to help with the field’s final preparations is scheduled for July 21 beginning at 7 a.m.

“One thing that I’ve been very blessed to have is the community support,” Morton said. “The excitement is building up. We’re ready for that home opener and very grateful.”

According to Morton, he is especially excited for the current group of seniors that get to have senior night on their home field.

“For them to be able to play their home games at Mims Field is a big motivator for them,” Morton said.

Landon Messer is part of the senior class and is anticipating stepping onto Mims Field under the Friday night lights for the first time in a year.

“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like,” Messer said. “There’s going to be a lot of emotion.”