Football club to pitch plans for £50,000 pay-off

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC are in the running to pocket a £50,000 bursary to help improve the club. The Road are one of six nonleague clubs shortlisted for the 2018 £100K product bursary offered by the Buildbase Club Renovation Programme. The Hinckley side will now face-off against the other clubs, putting forward plans to a panel of judges at Wembley Stadium on March 29. Two winning clubs will each walk away with £50,000 from the bursary fund. The clubs selected as finalists by Buildbase and The FA, chosen from a total of 57 applications from around the country, are Cheadle Town FC, Dunkirk FC and Leicester Road FC from The Buildbase FA Vase and Lincoln United FC, Ashford United FC and Needham Market FC from The Buildbase FA Trophy For the application process, each of the clubs outlined their proposed renovation plans if successful in the competition, including clubhouse extensions, pitch improvements, creating facilities for disabled people and installing new fencing. Buildbase branches across England and Wales will be supporting the clubs with information, advice and supplying the building products required for their projects. Paul Roche, Managing Director of Buildbase said: “This is the second year we have extended our sponsorship of The Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase competitions to help local clubs make a real difference to the weekly experience for teams, supporters and the communities using their facilities. “Having seen the achievements of last year’s renovation programme winners, we know this is making a real contribution to the future of these clubs and their local communities.” Mark Bullingham, FA Group Commercial Director, said: “Every season, The Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase competitions demonstrate the very best of Non-League football. “We are delighted that our valued partners Buildbase are once again offering these significant bursaries to help participating clubs improve their facilities. We look forward to welcoming the six shortlisted sides to Wembley Stadium and to ultimately awarding two grants which will undoubtedly make a real difference to clubs and communities alike.” The Buildbase Club Renovation Programme has provided £100,000 of building, electrical and hire products available for two clubs in 2017 – Hanwell Town FC and Cleethorpes Town FC – and a further £100,000 for two additional clubs this year.