Ground Improvements To Improve Broadwell Amateurs FC Matchdays
A series of improvements made to Broadwell Amateurs FC’s home, The Hawthorns, were officially unveiled recently (Saturday 10 August). The works were made possible by investment from the Premier League, which has been delivered by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF).
The investment has allowed Broadwell Amateurs FC, who play in the Gloucestershire County League at Step 11, to provide over 40 additional car parking spaces for supporters and players and two dedicated disabled parking spaces. The club have also installed hard standing around the football pitch, providing a dry well-maintained area to stand whilst watching matches.
Below, Alexa White (left) and 94-year-old Alma Hinton (right), the oldest surviving member of the Broadwell Amateurs ladies team from 1948, open the new facilities at The Hawthorns.
The new car park facilities will help resolve a long-standing problem Broadwell Amateurs have on match days, where supporters are forced to park on the main road around the club or obstruct neighbouring driveways.
The additional facilities will meet the demands of the club’s three Saturday senior sides and a Sunday veteran team along with its strong youth set up who all use the clubhouse through the week.
New car parking and hard standing around the pitch was a long-time ambition of two former club members who have sadly passed away. Melvin Hale and Ken Turner were both former players, committee members, secretaries and chairmen. Without their dedication to the football club over several years the current committee would not be embarking on such projects.
The project was made possible by a £18,555 grant from the Premier League, which is delivered through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund – the sister organisation of the Football Foundation.
Andrew Smith, Project co-ordinator and Broadwell Amateurs FC Trustee, said: “Without the support of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, who are financed by the Premier League, our football club would not be able to provide such outstanding new facilities for our members and the local community”
Colin O’Dell, President of Broadwell Amateurs FC said: “The FSIF is not only helping to create better facilities for our current first team players but cementing the foundations for our future youth players progressing into senior football."
Peter McCormick OBE, Chairman of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, said: “I’m delighted that investment from the Premier League has been able to support Broadwell Amateurs FC to carry out an array of works to their home ground. The improvements made at The Hawthorns will help to improve the safety and matchday experience for supporters visiting the club.
“The FSIF directs money from the Premier League into improving the standard of lower-league stadia. This is helping to develop the provision of football at lower levels of the game and make facilities safer. Congratulations to the club for securing this funding.”
For more information, please contact:
Jack Cavilla on 0345 345 4555 Ext. 4292 or jack.cavilla@footballfoundation.org.uk
Andrew Smith on 07858 069 745 or a_smith104@sky.com