Work starting on new fan funded community facility

Frickley Athletic's proud officials and fans are looking forward to work starting on a new community pavilion and changing rooms complex they've helped fund within weeks of the end of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League campaign.

The facility at Westfield Lane, housing four changing rooms, a physio room and a community room for local sports and social groups to use, should be completed by November with contractors QSP set to start work in mid-May.

The Blues are not far off hitting a £50,000 target to secure grant match funding thanks to the backing the Frickley Athletic Redevelopment Fund has received from supporters and local businesses and announced on Thursday that the contractors were moving in to prepare the site for construction.

Frickley Athletic chairman Gareth Dando said: “With funding secured from the Football Foundation, the FA Stadium Improvement Fund, Sport England, WREN and Wakefield Council, and after negotiating a new lease and subsequently agreeing outline terms with QSP, we’re now about to see over 12 years planning become a reality.

"I’m proud that the club will be able to provide top class facilities for local people to enjoy and that we can be central to the redevelopment of the whole area. In the coming weeks we’re due to meet South Elmsall Town Council and other local stakeholders to discuss how the building can best serve the local community.”

He added: “We’re still looking for donations from local businesses to enable us to reach our target of £50,000 which will allow us to fully kit out the building so we’d really appreciate any interested parties getting in touch by contacting me on 07709 098469."

* The Blues have confirmed their first home pre-season friendly of the summer, the arrival of a Hull City XI on Saturday 18 July.

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