The cash bonanza will allow Woodmansterne Sports Club to build a six-team changing room. The grant from the Football Foundation will go towards funding half the cost of the refurbishment; Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will fund the remainder.
The new development will enable Woodmansterne Hyde Football Club to expand and provide more football opportunities for the local community. The club currently has 13 boys teams from under seven’s to under 15’s and five men’s teams. As part of this project they have produced a football development plan to establish an additional 20 teams, including a girls and womens section, and to develop a structured training programme for people with disabilities.
The new facilities will enable an increase of 48% more male footballers and 380% more female footballers at the site. There will also be an increase of 60% more male cricketers and a huge increase in female cricketers of 1,700% thanks to the development.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Woodmansterne Hyde Football Club, have been working with the Surrey Football Association in developing the bid.
Caroline McRoyall, County Development Manager of Surrey FA, said: “It is great to see the Reigate & Banstead Borough Council supporting their local club by providing half the funding for this project. Woodmansterne Hyde Football Club has a great future and we will be working with them to achieve the objects they have set out in their football development plan, including achieving FA Community Charter Standard Status by 2010”.
Cllr Adam De Save, Executive Member for Leisure and Wellbeing, said: “The Council is delighted by this grant. Woodmansterne Sports Club is a well used sports facility, many people will benefit from the new changing facilities that the grant will fund.”
“I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication in securing this award, and the Football Foundation for their kind donation.”
The Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. Funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity with a £45m budget going straight into the heart of football.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “We warmly congratulate the club and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.
“Sport is playing a central role in helping people to stay fit, strengthen communities and promote responsibility amongst young people. I am delighted that Football Foundation investment is opening up access to sport in Woodmansterne and encourage other organisations in the region to apply to us.”
Crispin Blunt, Member of Parliament for Reigate said: “A grant of this size will make a step change in the quality of facilities at Woodmansterne. Everyone to do with the project is to be congratulated, particularly the Club and the Council.
“By comparison to other counties in Britain we have not reflected the importance of sport in the community with the appropriate facilities. This major grant will significantly address this for football in Woodmansterne.”
The new changing facilities will be completed by mid 2009.