PEOPLE have been urged to show their support to help turn Droitwich’s King George V Playing Fields into a state-of-the-art sports hub befitting the town.
An application is being submitted for a Wychavon Community Legacy Grant for the refurbishment of the Sports Pavilion.
The current outdated set-up is more than 40 years old and, with a proposed redevelopment of the football pitches also planned, is hopeful of getting a share of the cash.
As well as the first team, the ground is used for the Droitwich Spa Veterans, Ladies, Boys and Girls teams and open age football clubs.
And it is not just the beautiful game the complex plays host to – The King George V Playing Fields and building also accommodate Droitwich Spa’s Boxing Academy and Hockey Club.
Bosses say the ageing ground is restricting those who do use it and is under-used as the right funding would pave the way for more clubs, societies and individuals to participate in sport and exercise.
Work is due to start on the project in the spring and a raft of improvements are planned.
Among them are better toilets for men, women and the disabled, improved changing facilities for female officials, becoming more prominent in modern day football.
The pavilion needs to be upgraded so it is more accessible for the disabled and new disabled-friendly toilets.
A planned clubroom could be used for learning and education purposes for schools and a new larger and updated kitchen would also give the football and other sports clubs a base to be proud of which could help them reach their full potential.
Wayne Oliver, former Droitwich Spa FC and now club director, said: “Everything we have planned would be a major boost in terms of those who can access and use the facility.
“It will increase daily usage by local groups and societies and increase participation improving people’s health and wellbeing.”
The project is being led by Droitwich Spa Town Council and will be seen as a major improvement to the all-round offering of sport in the town.
The Wychavon Community Legacy Grant is decided by a competitive bidding process so it is hoped people will submit comments to show their support for the project.
Visit the Droitwich Spa FC website at dsfc.news for more and to submit emails of support for the project.
Can you help ‘football come home’?
On the pitch front, a fund-raising page has been set up to raise £100,000 towards the cost of its new-look home ground to help take the club to the next level.
The development will include a stadia floodlit grass pitch with a 50 to 100-capacity stand, a turnstile, revamped changing rooms, pitchside spectator barriers and hard standing around the outside.
Next to that will be a floodlit FA approved 3G pitch and a programme stand.
For the past four years the first team has been playing its home games in Stourport-on-Severn because its own ground does not meet the required FA standards. The ground the club has planned would finally see football come home to Droitwich.
Click here to find out more and donate.
