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Darlaston Town are awarded funding to revamp football facilities at The Paycare Ground
The club receives funding to secure the Paycare Ground
People living in Bentley, Darlaston, and the surrounding area are set to benefit from fresh investment into local football facilities. Darlaston Town (1874) FC have been awarded a grant from the Premier League, the FA, and Government’s Football Foundation, to improve their Paycare Ground facility.
The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to improve the experience of playing football for everyone, by championing fair access to quality facilities.
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on grassroots football but this funding is great news for local football. This grant will enable the club including their 11 youth teams and Ladies team to secure their ground and minimise pitch and property damage and anti-social behaviour by trespassers and intruders. The grant will be used to erect fencing to secure the club grounds and pitches.
Players, officials, supporters, and visitors will all benefit from the improvements.
Darlaston Town has worked with the Football Foundation and Birmingham County FA to secure a £20,385 grant towards the project.
Neil Chambers Chairman of the club said “The award of the Football Foundation Grant is great news for everyone involved with the club. Over the last five years, we have had two break ins and have been the subject of numerous instances of trespass and anti social behaviour causing damage to pitches. Whilst the club will contribute nearly £7k from our own funds we simply could not proceed with the improvements without the Football Foundation Grant.”
Robert Sullivan, Interim Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We know the huge benefits playing regular football can have on individuals’ physical and mental well-being. That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country. It’s therefore very welcome news to hear that this funding will support Darlaston Town in developing and improving their Paycare Ground facility for their local community.
“Working with our partners – the Premier League, The FA, government and Sport England – we will be investing in over £1bn worth of local facilities across the country over the next decade. We believe we can transform lives and strengthen communities by unlocking the power of pitches and this is another project that brings us closer to that ultimate goal.”