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11 February, 2009
WORK STARTS ON NEW CHANGING ROOMS FOR KENDAL UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
Work has started on new changing rooms that will give a big shot in the arm to Kendal United Football Club.
The project, which will cost more than £370,000 in total, will net the thriving club purpose-built changing facilities that will replace a dilapidated and now condemned shed.
Mayor of Kendal Clare Feeney-Johnson cut the first turf to mark the start of construction work on the new building, which will be situated on Kendal’s Castle estate, beside the club’s pitch below Kendal Castle.
The Football Foundation – the UK’s largest sports charity, funded by the Premier League, the FA and the Government - has generously funded a large part of the scheme. Other donations have come from South Lakeland District Council, Kendal Town Council and a number of local businesses and charitable trusts. Money was also raised through a variety of fund-raising events by the club.
Kendal-based construction company Cox and Allen Ltd has won the contract to build the changing rooms, which will include: two dressing rooms with toilets, showers and separate drying areas; two referee rooms with private showers and toilets; toilets for supporters and people with disabilities; a storage room; and a community room, including a kitchen, for meetings and for hire by the community.
Kendal United club chairman Tim Pryor said: “We are absolutely delighted to see this scheme finally become a reality. It’s taken six years, and a lot of hard work, to reach this point, and we were able to achieve this thanks to the dedication and hard work of the club’s volunteers.
“This new facility will help us to build on all the good work done by a lot of people since the club started in 1944 and ensure football is played here for many decades to come. We would like to thank everyone who has donated funds in anyway, or attended any fund-raising event, and also everyone who has donated their time and effort to help make this happen.”
Peter Ducksbury, Executive Officer of the Westmorland FA, welcomed the project, saying: “The County FA has supported the club throughout the application and planning process and is delighted the scheme has come to fruition.
“The construction of new facilities will provide the club with some of the best in the county, and is testament to lots of hard work by volunteers involved in the club, and provides a platform for the development of players for the future.”
Richard Foster, Leisure and Well-being Manager at South Lakeland District Council, also praised the development, saying: “The club is a great example of a well-run, well-structured, community-focused club. Their values around increasing participation and providing all players and volunteers with the opportunity to develop in a non-pressurised environment are fantastic.
“This new facility will be something the club as a whole can be very proud of and I for one have been delighted to be part of this project.”
Mayor Clare Feeney-Johnson said the development would provide the club with state-of-the-art facilities, and added Kendal Town Council was delighted to be supporting the project.
David Armstrong, Contracts Director at Cox & Allen Building Contractors, commented: “As a long established Kendal company, we are delighted to be involved with such a worthwhile community project, and have been willing to extend special contract terms to ensure the club was able to proceed with the project. Work will begin with specialist piling, and the project is due to be completed in June.”
PICTURED at the turf-cutting ceremony are, from left, Kendal United Chairman Tim Pryor, Ian Postlethwaite of Kendal United, Westmorland FA Executive Officer Peter Ducksbury, Cox and Allen Contracts Director David Armstrong, South Lakeland District Council Leisure and Well-being Manager Richard Foster, and Mayor of Kendal Clare Feeney-Johnson.
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