Changing rooms officially opened

And it was a double whammy for the club, which was also granted Standard Charter Status by the Football Association.

The opening ceremony of the £200,000 project is a major boost for the club, which was founded in 1907, and the wider Upper Eden community as the new facility will also be available for non-footballing events and functions

Secretary of Kirkby Stephen Junior Football Club Ronnie Holmes said: "This is a great community facility for Kirkby Stephen and the surrounding area."

Members of the committee of Kirkby Stephen Junior Football Club applied for grant aid from the National Lottery Fund to build the facility in 2000. The club was gifted the land by the John Strutt Foundation and two Football Association standard pitches were established, but there were no changing facilities for the players, who had to use the town's working men's club.

After approaching the Football Foundation, a joint scheme run by the Football Association and the Lottery Fund, a detailed

scheme was developed and budget costs determined. Businesses and charitable trusts gave financial support.

Mr Holmes explained: "We received £180,000 from the Football Foundation, and we had to raise a further £20,000 through donations from different people, businesses and organisations. We were given ten per cent by Eden District Council and a large sum also came from the Landfill Tax."

Building work started in mid-2002 and the changing rooms, which include a large car parking area, were completed earlier this year.

The new changing facilities also include a car park for 36 cars, which will ease local traffic congestion on match and training days and improve safety for the young players. The new floodlighting also offers the club evening sessions, during the winter months.

Now the club not only has two full-sized pitches of Football Association standard, but also facilities to match.

May 7, 2003 10:01