People living in Scunthorpe and the surrounding area are set to benefit from fresh investment into local football facilities.

Bottesford Town, a FA Charter Stand Community Football Club, have been awarded a grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, to upgrade their facilities. The club worked with the Football Foundation and the Lincolnshire County FA, the North Lincolnshire Council and SSE Sustainable Development Fund to secure a £1.5 million grant towards the project.

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to improve the experience of playing football for everyone, by championing fair access to quality facilities. 

This grant will enable Bottesford Town Football Club, whose 1st team plays at Step 5 in the Northern Counties East Football League together with typically 25 in-house teams of varying ages from 6 years old up to adult football for both boys and girls inclusive of disability teams, the chance to play football each week as a result of improved facilities.

Players from the Football Club, in addition to other local Community groups, will be able to enjoy better quality pitches with the introduction of a new floodlit 3G artificial playing surface in addition to newly developed grass pitches which will accommodate all the various permutations ranging from mini-soccer 5v5 up to adult 11v11 size football. The grant also includes for the provision of new Stadia equipment with covered seating areas and improved disability facilities. 

Bottesford Town Football Club worked with the Football Foundation and the Lincolnshire County FA, the North Lincolnshire Council and SSE Sustainable Development Fund to secure a £1.5 million pounds grant towards the project.

Anthony Reeve, Chairman of Bottesford Town Football Club, said: “This project comes to fruition after many years of hard work from members of the Club and provides a platform for the Club to move forward. I would particularly wish to make mention of both those members of the North Lincolnshire Council and the Bottesford Town Council who have been supportive of our Community Football Club. It goes without saying that without the project guidance from Caroline (Castle Consultancy) and the financial support from the Football Foundation that our ambition would not have come to fruition.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award to Bottesford Town Football Club towards developing a new 3G facility and enhanced grass playing pitches is great news for the local community.

“It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and therefore help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.  That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country.  It’s therefore very welcome news to hear that this funding will support Bottesford Town Football Club in developing their facilities for their local community.

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA, government and Sport England – support facility development projects like this across the country over the next decade to transform our grassroots game and unlock the power of pitches.”

Steph Powell, Lincolnshire FA Head of Football Development, said: “We are delighted to have supported the developments beginning at Bottesford Town FC. Bottesford is one of a number of clubs and organisations County wide that we are working closely with to transform the facilities landscape across Lincolnshire. That includes the development of 3G pitches, small sided facilities, changing room and pavilions and the improvement of grass pitches with the support of the Football Foundation. 

"The project at Bottesford Town will make a monumental difference not only to the experience of existing players at the football club but allow them to continue to grow, have a positive impact on the local community and give them a facility to be even more proud of. There are many individuals behind the scenes who have worked hard to make this happen and we can’t wait to see the finished product!”

For any facility development enquiries to Lincolnshire FA, please email steph.powell@lincolnshirefa.com