March Town United has been given £100,000 to spend on a new clubhouse and changing facilities which they hope will benefit the whole town.
The Hares successful Football Foundation grant application is a big boost as they look to raise the more than £200,000 needed to build a new clubhouse, four new changing rooms and a bar at the GER.
The club has submitted other funding bids and, if successful, will look to start building early next year.
If everything goes to plan, the new clubhouse could be open in time for the start of next season.
March Town United deputy chairman Gerry Roe said: “A tremendous amount of work has gone in to the application so we are very pleased to get the grant from the Football Foundation.
“We want to start building early next year but, while we are not too far away, we still need more funding. Further bids have gone in and we are just waiting for the outcome. We will not know until November.
“The facilities at the club are absolutely dire, not only for the club but for the town, so we hope to improve them for the whole town.
“Whether you are interested in football or not, the clubhouse will be there for the whole community to use.”
The club also hopes in time to install a fourth generation artificial turf pitch.
MP Steve Barclay, who has pushed for improved funding for Fenland’s sports facilities, welcomed the successful grant application.
He said: “The new clubhouse and changing facilities have the potential to significantly improve the experience of players and spectators, and also to strengthen the case for bidding for pitch improvements which could maximise the revenue potential of the new clubhouse.
“A standard grass football pitch can only be used competitively for four hours a week before the quality of the surface deteriorates noticeably.
“By contrast lots of matches can be played on the artificial pitches all year round, and now they have been approved for FA Cup matches and league fixtures it makes commercial sense to use them.
“It is exciting to see the new plans taking shape at March Town Football Club and I hope we can now use this as a springboard for further improvements to local football facilities.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here