March Town United’s new clubhouse will be open for business at Saturday’s BKD Cup pre-season opener against Wisbech Town.
But it is not just Hares supporters who will benefit from the impressive facility - it is intended for the whole community to enjoy.
It will be open on Tuesday-Friday nights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
The clubhouse includes a large bar area, kitchen, home and away team changing rooms and both men’s and women’s referee changing rooms. In the bar area, there will be a pool table, darts board and TVs showing both BT Sport and Sky Sports. It will also boast the biggest beer garden in the town.
To finance the £215,000 project, the club secured £100,000 from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, who are supporters of the Football Foundation and the largest funder of non-league football in the country.
They were also allocated a grant of £69,150 from WREN and FCC Environment and were donated £25,000 by the late Brian Lake.
WREN is a not for profit business that awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from funds donated by FCC Environment as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.
The work was carried out by MJS contractors, under the management of Lee Brownlow, with the design by architect Matthew Hall.
Proud chairman Phil White said: “It’s awesome. We are so proud of what we have done here. It’s not a members club - it’s for the whole community.
“This would not have been possible if it was not for WREN, the Football Foundation and Brian Lake.
“MJS, the main contractor, has done a fantastic job. Lee Brownlow, who has managed the whole thing, only started in February and got it all completed by the end of June. It’s phenomenal.
“I can’t thank the board enough – we have been through some hard times and there were doubters – but we got here.”
Vice chairman Gerry Roe said: “This is the culmination of four years of hard work by the committee of the club, to ensure that the club survived initially and now enabling the club to thrive.
“The club has so many people and organisations to thank for getting the club to move forward. Thank You for all your help.
“The Football Foundation Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) a great supporter of Grass Roots football who the club went to and were able to secure £100k of funding to help build the new clubhouse.
“WREN who awarded a grant of £69k who seek to improve communities with grants awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund Scheme and receives its funding from FCC Environmental who operate the Landfill site just north of March.
“This allowed the football club to improve their facilities but also have helped provide a first class facility for the
community of March to use.
“Mike Saxby, Managing Director of MJS Construction, March whose company have produced such a wonderful building, for his patience and understanding and guidance.
“This clubhouse is for the community, come and have a look, everybody is welcome,it is available to hire, or just enjoy perhaps the largest beer garden in March. You are very welcome.”
The clubhouse will be available to hire by other groups and clubs in the town and local area. To find out more, contact Gerry Roe on 07518 864296 or e-mail Roegar1138@aol.com
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