£1m grant boosts football facilities

FOOTBALL lovers in Witham will soon have new revamped facilities after it was awarded a £1million lottery grant.

The cash from the lottery-funded sports charity Football Foundation will be added to another £1 million set aside by Braintree District Council.

It will pay for an artificial pitch, changing rooms and pavilion at Spinks Lane, opposite John Bramston School.

The grant is the highest possible amount awarded by the Football Foundation.

Work will begin on the all-weather pitch on July 3 and will be completed by mid-November.

The changing rooms will be part of a second stage of the development and will be finished by the end of May next year.

The new pitch will be floodlit artificial turf, with the 12-changing room pavilion, officials' room and a meeting room with car parking.

It replaces an existing antiquated pavilion and Redgra pitch and will be used for both football and hockey.

Leader of Braintree District Council, Graham Butland, said: “This is great news for Witham and perfect timing for sports development in the town.

“It will be a top quality facility and will help encourage a new generation of sporting heroes as well boosting local clubs and sporting activity - adjacent to the new adult community college.”

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We warmly congratulate Braintree District Council for their hard work and dedication in securing this award.

“Grass roots football is the lifeblood of the game in this country which is why is vital that projects such as this now have the benefit of foundation cash.”

Braintree District Council chairman David Finch was presented with the cheque by Lana Bond, football development officer for education for Essex County Football Association, on behalf of the Football Foundation.