Sawston Parish Council gets a new year bonus with Football Foundation and ECB grants
The two organisations have been working with the Parish Council ever since they were told that the existing pavilion on Spicer’s Sports Ground in New Road, Sawston would probably be unsafe by the end of 2009.
These awards are on top of the £50,000 already promised from South Cambridgeshire District Council and grants from Wren Waste Management and Donarbon. These latest awards mean that all the required funding is now in place and work has already started.
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.
Eugene Murray, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the sports governing bodies have recognised the good work that our local clubs are doing in running successful clubs catering for both junior and senior members in the village.” He also commented, “These awards are also in recognition of the Parish Council’s substantial support for the project in purchasing the land after it had been under threat of development and now facilitating the building of a new pavilion the whole community can be proud of.”
“The new facility will include four changing rooms, full disabled facilities, a fully equipped kitchen and a social, community area. Although the space we have to work with is limited and sport is the primary function of the building, we are keen to see the facility used by the wider community. We have therefore included a multipurpose area which we hope will be used for meetings and small social gatherings by a wide cross section of residents,” said the Chairman.
The sports clubs are also pleased with the news. Chairman of Sawston Cricket Club, David Ellis, said: “The existing building has great charm but has outlived its time and fallen into disrepair. Many of us will be sad to see it go, but we are delighted and excited that the new building will not only be functional but will also contain many of the attractive features of a traditional pavilion.” He added, “I really feel it will be an asset for the village.”
It is hoped that if works start in the next few weeks the pavilion will be ready for use early in the summer of 2010.
Bruce Cruse, the ECB’s Facilities and Funding Manager, said: “The ECB is pleased to invest in this worthy project and to give a boost to the Club’s facility development. It has been planned to input new impetus into the playing future of the Club and its community. I am confident that as the investment matures the Club will go from strength to strength.”
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “This is an excellent example of football and cricket working together for the good of the local community. We warmly congratulate Sawston Parish Council and the Cambridgeshire 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. This new project in Sawston is but one example of thousands across the country that the Football Foundation is supporting with money provided by our funding partners - the Premier League, The FA and Government.”
Football Foundation, Rory Carroll on 0845 345 4555 ext 4280, or visit rory.carroll@footballfoundation.org.uk
