Sevenoaks Town apply for Buildbase Club Renovation Programme in a bid to clinch £100,000 grant

SEVENOAKS TOWN are calling on fans to support its bid to revamp the club’s facilities with the help of builders’ merchant Buildbase, the title sponsors for both The FA Trophy and The FA Vase.

The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club has applied to the Buildbase Club Renovation Programme, which launched this year and is open to teams entering The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase competitions.

Up to £100,000 worth of building materials, electrical products and hire equipment is available to two football clubs in 2017.

Chairman Paul Lansdale said: “We intend to install our own 3G artificial pitch in May this year which will enable all our 59 teams to all train at the same venue and to play more matches without the risk of waterlogged pitches.

“Sevenoaks Town FC plays a major role in the local community providing football for over 700 people every week including junior football, girls’ football, senior football and our Powerchair football teams.

“Since 2007, the club has grown from 16 teams to 59 teams and with this new facility accommodating further growth, we forecast that by 2019 we will be in excess of 68 teams.

“Investing in the facilities would mean we could also offer local primary schools the chance to use the facilities for their physical education classes or extra-curricular activities.”

To help the club stand a better chance of being awarded Buildbase’s product bursary, fans can register their support at http://www.buildbase.co.uk/pitch-in-your-support and also Tweet using #BuildbaseRenovation.

Local Buildbase branches will be supporting the club by providing information and advice about the building products required for a renovation project.

Kate Tinsley, the CEO of Buildbase said: “Our branch teams are already an integral part of their local communities so it’s brilliant to be able to extend their support with an investment that will renovate football club facilities for the benefit of all. All clubs taking part in the competitions can apply and in partnership with The FA we will select the most worthy causes.”

 In February, six shortlisted finalists, consisting of three Buildbase FA Trophy and three Buildbase FA Vase clubs, will be invited to pitch their project to a panel of judges from The FA and Buildbase at a “Dragon’s Den”-style event at Wembley.

Two winners will be announced at The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase semi-finals on 11 March 2017. They will receive an award presentation for their building products on finals day on 21 May 2017, ready to start renovations over the summer.

The Buildbase Club Renovation Programme is a £200,000 product bursary running throughout 2017 and 2018.

Mark Bullingham, FA Commercial Director said: “This scheme could be a real boon for clubs wanting to expand, attract more supporters and become a real hub of their local community. It will be both the non-league community and local fans that become the beneficiaries too, which can only be a good thing.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk