Shifnal Town Football Club reveals £1 million hub for town
A £1 million community hub could be coming to Shifnal as part of the football club’s continued development.
Shifnal Town FC has announced plans to spend up to £1 million building a new clubhouse.
The two-storey building is set to feature function rooms, a sports hall, first aid facilities, director’s bar, player’s lounge, referee rooms, offices and state of the art changing rooms.
Being built to facilitate a range of sports, the club plans for it to be used as a community hub for the people of Shifnal.
Initial plans have been drawn up by the club in co-operation with the Football Foundation, for an official planning application to be submitted at a later date.
The estimated cost of between £900,000 to £1 million is being paid for by private investors and local businesses backing the club.
Mike Tranter, managing director of the club and former first team manager, said he hopes work will start as early as September.
“We’ve had meetings with the Football Foundation and now we need to make a few alterations before we can submit them and make a full application in the coming weeks,” he said.
Pitches
The clubhouse is just one part of the plans to facilitate teams of all sports and hold various events – with the implementation of two all-weather pitches already in the pipeline.
Since it was taken over last year, the club has gone from one men’s team, to an U12s, U13s, U15s, U16s and U17s.
The club also has a walking football team, a ladies team, a disabled team and a recently formed children’s team, Young Guns Club.
“The whole idea is to have a community club for the people of Shifnal,” he added. “With all the houses constantly going up in and around Shifnal it’s an ideal place to get everyone in the community involved with something – not just football but all types of sport.
“With support from our sponsors and investors we’re trying to make it a social point for the people of Shifnal.”
The plans have already received praise from the town council.
Shifnal South and Cosford Councillor Edward Bird posted on social media: “I am supporting the development of Shifnal Town Football Club. What a fantastic group of people doing great work for Shifnal.”
The mayor of Shifnal, councillor Robert Harrop, has said the council is very pleased with the community approach the club is taking.
"It enhances our town from a family point of view and gives another entry into our community," he said.
"Instead of purely a football team, it is now an amenity that will benefit the town for years to come."
