Sevenoaks Town secure funding to start work on their long-awaited clubhouse by the end of the year

SEVENOAKS TOWN have received a cash boost to start work on their long-awaited new clubhouse at Greatness Park by the end of the year.

The Premier League, The Football Association and Government’s Football Foundation has approved the grant for the eighth-tier Isthmian League South East Division club.

Robert Sullivan, the Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said in a statement: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government, to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“This grant award towards developing a new pavilion at Greatness (Park) is fantastic news for the local community in Sevenoaks and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”

Sevenoaks Town’s chairman Paul Lansdale added: “Years of hard work has paid off with the news of this funding for the building of our long-awaited clubhouse.

“The Football Foundation has agreed to provide a significantly larger figure than we expected.

“It is very exciting news and means we can now focus on a start date to begin the work before the end of the year.”

This Football Foundation funding is in addition to the £787,500 of funding provided by Sevenoaks District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and £87,500 match funding from Sevenoaks Town Council.

The Football Club and Sevenoaks Town Council has also received excellent news that their application for £150,000 of funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund has been successful.  This brings the total funding to an impressive £1,784,100.

Securing these grants is a key milestone for the club and the Council’s plans to redevelop Greatness Park.  The project aims to bring economic, social and environmental benefits to the local community, particularly underrepresented groups.

Sevenoaks Mayor Cllr Tony Clayton said: “I’d like to pay tribute to all the work by Town Council officers and Sevenoaks Town Football Club volunteers who have made this a successful partnership.

“This will be a new asset for the town, accompanied by other improvements to the Rec and a real gain for sports people of all ages.

“We recognise local concerns about increased traffic and I look forward to being able to access the new pavilion safely by bike.”

The new community pavilion will be built close to the 3G pitch. This will mean the current brick pavilion outside the stadium will be released for future community use.

The new pavilion will include new changing rooms, kitchen and refreshment areas and other facilities.  The project also seeks to be environmentally friendly through the design, which will incorporate a green roof and living wall.

Sevenoaks Town Council own the land and buildings in this area and lease them to the Football Club, who manage the facilities for a peppercorn rent.

Jeff Davis, the head of Football Development at the Kent Football Association, added: “We would like to congratulate Sevenoaks Town FC on the award.

“The club are at the heart of their local community, offering football opportunities for all.  The determination, resilience and hard work shown by all at the club have been rewarded and Sevenoaks is a shining light of good practice in Kent Football.”

The Oaks run 63 teams, providing football for over 1,100 people and their first team managed by Marcel Nimani finished in ninth-place in the table last season.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk