Ellesmere Rangers build for a bright future

The cash has been awarded by the Premier League and FA Fund which has invested £1.8million in grassroots facilities across the West Midlands.

Rangers, who have a senior side in the West Midlands League Premier Division and run various junior teams, have received a total balance of £95,800.

They will be using the cash to upgrade their changing pavilion facility at their Beech Grove base, writes Becky Weaver.

Director of football Alan Davis explained: "We have been very lucky. We've got funding not only from the FA fund, but also from Sport England and the Football Association National Sports Centre Trust.

"The funding has been an ongoing process for about three years, so it has taken us a while to get through certain challenges.

"You think it's never going to happen to your club and then all of a sudden it comes together. Then it's just a matter of making sure that all boxes are ticked."

He went on: "It's been brilliant to have the support from the FA. The Shropshire FA have always been really good to us.

"They could see the predicament that we were in with our pavilion, our old club-house was really falling apart."

Davis reckons the new clubhouse means that the club can now look to move forward.

The old building has already been demolished and the club hope the new facility can have a positive effect on the whole community.

He said: "We had to do something to make sure that we could move forward not only in the children's football, but for the adults as well. We needed to make sure that we were set up for years to come.

"It's not just had a fantastic effect on the club, it's had a great effect on the community too because we will be able to let our new club-house out.

"The Scouts and the Guides are looking at using it, but it's also going to be there for general use for the community too."

Davis explained how the old club-house had been in a poor condition, with no insulation and water beginning to leak through, meaning it didn't provide the best environment for the club.

He added: "It will just be really nice for our players and community to go to and watch football.

"We have struggled with the old place for so many years, there has not been any refurbishment work carried out since it was built.

"The old club-house was so cold, there was no insulation and it was starting to leak water, so it was not a nice environment for anyone to be in.

"We are also having a new serving hatch, so the kids have snacks they can buy and parents have a place where they can get teas and coffees."

As well as the club-house being rebuilt, Rangers are also set to benefit from refurbished changing rooms.

Davis continued: "Our changing rooms are being refurbished and extended, so it is receiving a complete revamp with the addition of a new referees' room and a medical centre.

"It's still going to be another two or three months before our new club-house is somewhere near completion, but it all depends on when materials arrive and if everything goes to plan."