Steels in race against time for funding

Stockbridge Park Steels Chairman Allen Bethell is urging the club's fans and local community to quickly come together to ensure the club's redevelopment plans go ahead.

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Steels are celebrating after securing six figure funding from Sport England and the Football Foundation to overhaul facilities around their Look Local Stadium, pictured, but they must secure 15 percent, or approximately £50,000, of the costs themselves.

With an end of March deadline to find the funds, Steels say they're now are in a race against time to make sure the project, which will benefit the entire community, gets off the ground after their grant success.

The makeover includes significant improvements to two football pitches and other playing surfaces, the installation of a major new draingage system, new perimeter fencing and new car parking facilities.

The Premier Division club's Chairman Bethel urged the community to 'pitch-in' on Wednesday after revealing that Steels had already lost four teams as a direct result of the sub-standard facilities.

He said: "Unless we do this it is very unlikely the club will be able to continue using the pitches in their present unacceptable condition. When completed, the project will create pitches to FA standard which the local community can be extremely proud of and which the club's 18 squads and 350 plus players deserve."

Appealing directly to fans and the community to work together, he added: "We believe the club has demonstrated over the past 30 years our ability to provide football opportunities for all ages and skill levels. With your help and support we aim to build on this and maintain our position as South Yorkshire's number one club."