Clipstone scoop grant funding to take club step nearer to dream of being a community hub

The Cobras have been awarded Portable Floodlight Funding, through the Football Foundation Improvement Fund, to ensure all pitches are lit up.

Club officials say it brings them a step nearer to their dream of making their ground a football hub and will further enhance facilities for junior and senior sides.

It means both training pitches will be floodlit, while the clubhouse is to extended.

Chairman Richard Clarey said: “It is fantastic news that we were successful in our grant application.

“We have been planning for this day for nearly three years, since the club was re-structured in January 2017.

“On day one the committee had a vision to ensure that the club re-discovered its roots as a community organisation, who strives to provide the best playing facilities and environment for all ages.

“Securing the grant allows us to continue our development and make full use of the improvements we have made over the last few years”.

“Everything we do at Clipstone is 100 per cent down to the commitment and dedication of our great team of volunteers. Every penny counts and our budgets are spent on meeting running costs or trying to improve the facilities.

“Clubs like ours simply cannot afford to improve facilities without the help of the grant funding that the Football Foundation provides.

Vice-Chairman, Brad Rutter has been pivotal in bringing together both the adult and junior Clipstone sections, also welcomed the news.

“When I took the role the main objective was very simple, we wanted to get back to being a community focused club and make the Lido ground the hub and home of all football activity in the village.

“We have worked tirelessly to improve the playing surfaces at the ground and can now boast three, full size pitches and a grass training pitch that are regularly commented on as being amongst the best in the area.

“The addition of portable floodlights will ensure we can get maximum use of these facilities.”