Faversham Town scoop £150,000 grant to open new dressing room block

Helen Whately, prospective parliamentary candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent, officially unveiled Faversham Town’s new changing pavilion at Salters Lane last Sunday.

The project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), the largest funders of non-league football in the country.

The works have enabled The Lilywhites that’s boasts 23 teams and over 400 youth players to build a new brand new changing pavilion, which will house junior and senior players from The Isthmian League Division One South, the Kent Youth League and the Isthmian Development League.

The works will ensure the club will meet the National ground grading criteria required of club's competing in Step Four, aiding their future ambitions to climb up the Leagues.

The new state-of-the-art facility comprises two team changing rooms; two officials’ changing rooms; spectator toilets and a physio room.

The project was made possible thanks to a £150,000 grant from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, which was secured in partnership with The Kent FA.

Since 2000, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund has provided 59 grants worth £3.2m towards grassroots sports projects worth £9.1m across the whole of Kent.

Funded with £5.2m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game.

These improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.

Helen Whately said: “I’m delighted that I was able to help Faversham Town FC score a £150,000 upgrade for its changing rooms.

“They are now looking terrific and these new facilities will be a real boost to the club – both the players and the fans.

“Congratulations to everyone involved and many thanks for your hard work in making this happen.”

Faversham Town chairman Ray Leader said: “The club are indebted to the Premier League, through the FSIF, Viridor Credits and Kent County Council and Parry Page Projects Ltd for their support, without which these facilities would not be possible.

“Our existing changing rooms were over 60 years old and in very poor condition.

“This brings a new chapter in the history of Faversham Town FC, helping it to provide excellent facilities for the local community, which will serve future generations of young sports people over the next 60 years.”

Peter McCormick OBE, chairman of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, added: “These stadia improvements at this stadium are a huge boost for all connected with Faversham Town FC, and the local football community.

“The new changing pavilion ensures the Lilywhites now meet the required stadia regulation, which will enable them to progress further up the football pyramid.

“The Premier League is a huge supporter of grassroots football and this project is another great example of its continued investment, through the FSIF, in stadia infrastructure at the lower levels of the game.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/favershamtownfc/