Footballers Hit The Clubhouse Target

from the Gazette and Herald

By Alana Lewis »

DELIGHTED footballers and coaches in Derry Hill will soon have the new club house they have longed for following a £180,000 grant from the Football Foundation.

After years of fundraising, Derry Hill Football Club has finally reached its target of £300,000 for a purpose built club house on the Bowood Sports Ground.

Chairman Alan Crocker said: “It feels like we have won the lottery. We are all celebrating this generous grant from the Football Foundation.

“It is wonderful to see that they share our vision and are able to assist us to support youth football within our community.”

The 180 club members will no longer have to use a mobile building with no power or toilets, and will have a purpose built clubhouse with two changing rooms, showers, a kitchen and meeting room.

The new building will reunite the club by bringing the girls team back to the Bowood Sports Ground where they have been unable to play due to lack of toilet facilities. At the moment the girls have to play at Springfields School.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray handed the cheque over on Saturday. He said: “The new facilities for Derry Hill Football Club are good news for local people, especially the youngsters and girl footballers.

“It is good news for the health and fitness of our people at a time when too many are slumped in front of the TV or computer games rather than outdoors taking exercise, and it is good news for this rural community at a time when too many local community facilities are disappearing.

“It is brilliant news all round, and I am delighted to be able to make this presentation on behalf of the Football Foundation.”

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game.

Chief executive Paul Thorogood said: “It is good to think that in such gloomy economic times we will be able to provide a new clubhouse to put a big smile on our young members’ faces.”