Staveley chairman Terry Damms hails boost for community following funding boost for club

Staveley chairman Terry Damms has spoken of his pride after the club scooped grant funding to boost football facilities in the area.
Members of Staveley MW U15's are just one of the club's teams who will benefit from the new 3G pitch. Pic Steve EllisMembers of Staveley MW U15's are just one of the club's teams who will benefit from the new 3G pitch. Pic Steve Ellis
Members of Staveley MW U15's are just one of the club's teams who will benefit from the new 3G pitch. Pic Steve Ellis

The NCEL side were awarded grants from the Premier League, The FA and the Football Foundation, to install a state-of-the-art floodlit third generation artificial grass pitch, with new pitch-side fencing and walkway, as part of the first phase of ambitious plans to develop the club.

It means the Trojans can now give their current group of 24 teams – which range from the first team all the way down to U6’s – the opportunity to enhance their footballing skills.

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The facility will be run by a non-profit making company with any surplus made being fed back into the community – with Mr Damms saying it will offer the ‘cheapest charge out rates for miles’

“We have been at this for 12 months since we first met different grant bodies,” he said.

“It has been a complex and thoroughly well run process going through the applications, we succeeded on five and failed on four or five as well, but eventually we got there.

“Grant people want to make sure they are giving you money for the right reasons and this is all about the community.

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“It is driven for the kids in the main and I would hope that by October kids will be able to get ready to play football with these facilities open seven days a week.

“To see all the kids and parents playing and watching junior football will be great to see. This is driven around providing a secure and sustainable model for a football club that is here forever.

“We know what we are, we run a tight ship on and off the field and try to provide the cheapest food and drink in the cafe and bars.”

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The new pitch will also ensure first team games go ahead as planned and further help the progress of players from junior to first team level.

“We had a nine game period at Staveley where we did not play at that cannot be right,” Mr Damms added.

“Apart from when it snows and you can’t play, 95 per cent of the games will go ahead as scheduled and that is what it is there for.

“Other football clubs will also get the usage of the 3G pitch. It gives our children progress from the juniors up to the first team on their doorstep, with the best facilities around.”

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Staveley will find out in July if they have been successful in attracting further grants for the second phase of their plans, which would modernise the 90-vehicle car park to provide safe and adequate pedestrian access, with floodlighting and CCTV for added security.

It is hoped a third phase to increase Football In Education facilities and the match day experience would then follow.

Paul Weatherall, Staveley Miners Welfare Juniors FC Chairman, said: “With SMWFC housing over 20 junior teams, the biggest challenge has always been accommodating the teams with pitches and grounds to train.

“As it currently stands, we have four locations throughout the Staveley area. With the new 3G based in our own ground we will be able to benefit all teams, keep them within the same area bringing the SMWFC family closer together.”

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