The Football Foundation have been fantastic for us over the years, says Woodstock chief Maurice Dunk

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), supporters of the Football Foundation, and the largest funder of non-league football in the country, have announced a grant of £14,700 to improve facilities at Woodstock.



The funding will allow Kent League side Woodstock Sports and Kent Invicta League side Woodstock Park to put in place a 150-seater stand to enable them to complete the required ground grading for the levels they play at and assist with their drive up through the football pyramid.

It will also allow both teams to compete in next season’s FA Vase and the following season’s FA Cup.

Funded with £6m 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.

Maurice Dunk, Chairman of the Woodstock Club, said: “The Football Foundation have been fantastic for us over the years; in 2002 they helped finance improvements to the changing rooms for our grassroots teams and in 2003 they assisted with ground equipment. Last year they provided half the funds towards our floodlights.

“This grant brings to an end a ten year project to bring all our pitches and facilities up to the correct standard, with our main pitch now being able to facilitate top-level matches. Any young local player joining us now as part of our newly organised Under-7 side can look forward to developing through to senior level, which is unique in this area.”

Peter McCormick, FSIF Chairman, said: “I am delighted that my colleagues and I have been able to award this grant to Woodstock Sports and Woodstock Park to allow them to develop their ground with a seated stand.

“FSIF staff work hard to make sure that the funding that is generously provided by the Premier League each year goes as far as possible and benefits as many clubs and supporters as it possibly can.”

Meanwhile, Ben Taylor’s Woodstock Sports welcome Canterbury City to Woodstock Park on Saturday.

Taylor’s side lie in ninth-place in the Kent League table, with four wins and two draws from their twelve outings.

They are a couple of places above Simon Austin’s Canterbury side, who have won three and drawn three from their ten league games.

Visit Woodstock Sports’ website: www.woodstocksports.co.uk

Woodstock Sports  v  Canterbury City
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 20^th October 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG