Mums unite to transform club under tight deadline
AGROUP of four mums have saved their sons’ football club house by refurbishing it themselves after a fire.
The Rowanfield Rovers’ mothers were in a race against time, as Cheltenham Borough Council had told them that if the club house was not repaired from the fallout of the fire in 2014 then the team would no longer be able to use the grounds.
Ian Webster, the leaseholder of the building, was told in court that the council would consume the building.
He said: “In 2014 the pavilion was burnt down and I decided to take the lease over to give kids an opportunity in the area to play football and different sports.”
The players’ mums only learned about this in the weeks leading up the deadline date of May 31.
With five weeks to go, Beata Migowska, Tina Gardner, Sara Jane Willett and Danielle Wood sprang in to action to save their under 9s squad.
They did much of the practical work themselves and called on the community to make donations online so that they could pay professionals to complete the rest of the work.
Rowanfield Rovers have been using the grounds of the King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham, since 2015.
With the work complete after reaching their £500 target, they had their grand opening of the refurbished club house on Saturday, July 6.
Beata Migowska, 35, said that it was a very “stressful” time but that they are so happy the work is now over.
She said: “It was stressful but we managed because we had help from so many people.
“It was so amazing, so many people helped for free. It was awesome. “It was a mad rush because we only had five weeks left to repair the clubhouse. It was all a little bit stressful.
“But we did it, we managed, and we are so proud of the clubhouse now. In just five weeks we did it.
“To be honest, this was all for the kids - we did it for them.”
Mrs Migowska went on to say that the clubhouse may have multiple purposes now that it is in fit condition.
“They’re could be an adult team,” she said.
“We are also using it as a gym and for lots of other differ