CHEADLE CAN BUILD A FUTURE WITH £5OK BURSARY
CHEADLE Town is one of just two Non-League clubs in the UK to have won a £50,000 Buildbase Renovation Bursary.
The product bursary – including building, electrical and hire products provided by local Buildbase branches – will enable the club to open up its facilities to new girls’, women’s and disability teams and fund club improvements with the upgrading of the clubhouse, changing rooms and showers.
Chairman of Cheadle Town and the CEO of the Little Sports Group, which aims to provide sports coaching and further education to youngsters, Craig Brennan, said: “It’s fantastic that the panel recognised how our vision for change would impact on everyone in the local community, especially at grassroots level.
“One of the reasons I brought this club into the Little Sports Group fold was to give aspiring footballers and coaches a direct path to a football club.
“Alongside our plans for facility improvement, we also have exciting plans for girls’ and women’s football development, which this funding will support.
“The facility improvements complement Cheadle Town Academy and our partnership with Cheadle College to help young people in the area to develop their career in football or sports coaching.
“There will be improvements for the fan experience too and there are plans for a permanent café and improved changing and shower amenities.
“It’s a very exciting time for the club and this bursary will accelerate our plans by two to three years, as we won’t have to rely on fundraising activities to make the improvements we need to become a modern club that reflects the needs of the community."
Paul Roche, Managing Director at Buildbase said: “This is our second year awarding the product bursary to two Non-League clubs and – from a total of almost 60 applications – we chose two richlydeserving winners that are
investing both in their football clubs and the local community.
“Listening to them and all the shortlisted clubs was a reminder of the great work grass-roots football clubs do in often very challenging circumstances. We’re glad to help another two clubs accelerate their plans for the future.”
The overall prize was a £100,000 Buildbase Renovation Bursary, with the other £50,000 going to Needham Market. The final decision was made after a pitching event between six finalists at Wembley Stadium.
Last year, the Buildbase Club Renovation Programme provided £100,000 of building, electrical and hire products available for two clubs – Hanwell Town and Cleethorpes Town – both of which have made significant improvements to their facilities.