Funding Rolls In

Thursday 2 July 2009

BEDFONT SPORTS CLUB SCORE WITH £785,000 FOOTBALL FOUNDATION GRANT

Footballers in Bedfont are celebrating the commencement of works to construct a new sports facility following a £784,845 grant awarded by the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity.

The cash bonanza will allow Bedfont Sports Club to construct a new purpose built changing room block, link building to existing clubhouse and third generation (3G) artificial sports pitch with floodlighting.

The Football Foundation has previously awarded Bedfont Sports Club four sets of football strips and equipment worth £1,600 through its Junior Kit Scheme, funding towards installing new goalposts through its Goalpost Safety Scheme and a Barclays Spaces for Sports Coaching Pack.

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 £40m budget going straight into the heart of football.

Welcoming the news, Cllr Rebecca Stewart, the council’s lead member for leisure, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant. The new changing room and artificial sports pitch with floodlighting facilities that the grant will fund, will allow Bedfont sports club to expand and provide more football opportunities for the local community.

“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.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We warmly congratulate Bedfont Sports Club and the Middlesex County FA for their hard work and dedication in securing this award.

“Sport is playing a central role in helping people to stay fit, strengthen communities and promote responsibility amongst young people. It is thanks to the funding from our partners the Premier League, The FA and Government that the Football Foundation exists to support this type of excellent project in Hounslow.”

David Allen, Associate Director at Gleeds Building Surveying, said: “Thanks to the support of The Football Foundation, London Borough of Hounslow and the dedication of Dave Reader (Club Chairman) and Terry Reader (Club Secretary) the Club and local community will soon be reaping the benefits of a superior sports facility.”

In addition to the Football Foundation’s grant, the project is supported by the London Borough of Hounslow and the generosity of a number of local businesses including London Marathon Trust, BAA, SITA and fund raising through club members.

ENDS

For more information call Rory Carroll on 0845 345 4555 ext 4280

or visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk

The Football Foundation 30 Gloucester Place London W1U 8FF

T 0845 345 4555 F 0845 345 7057 E info@footballfoundation.org.uk W www.footballfoundation.org.uk

Registered Charity Number 1079309 Registered in England and Wales Company limited by guarantee Company Number 3876305

improving facilities • creating opportunities • building communities