Future looks bright as Stafford Town pitch in

Workmen have moved onto the site on Riverway, with work at the club founded 40 years ago set to be complete by the autumn.

The club raised around £100,000 towards the development with the rest of the funds coming from the Football Foundation and the FA's Football Stadium Improvement Fund.

Due to a partnership with Stafford Borough Council, other teams and organisations from across the area will be able to benefit from the facility.

Gordon Evans, club founder and chairman, said: "It has not been easy. There has been an awful lot of work put in over the years.

"When we were told we were going to get the pitch, of course we were delighted.

"It is an upgrade on the facilities. We have spent a lot of money on the grass pitch over the years, with a groundsman to keep it in good condition.

"It is now 40 years since I first started the club and we want more and more teams to be able to play on the 3G surface.

"It will be fantastic. Thanks to a partnership with the council, the community will be able to play on it five days-a-week and we will, of course, use it for our matches.

"I think in the whole of the UK, there are about 600 3G pitches.

"If you compare that to Germany, there are about 3,000 so we want to try and play a part in getting kids playing on good surfaces and getting English football back where it needs to be."

In terms of when the work is due to be completed, Evans said: "It is supposed to be finished by the end of September, weather permitting.

"So far so good though, all the soil has been ripped up, and the surrounding pavement and there will better access to the ground and better parking as well."

Stafford Town's first team will be playing in the Midlands Football League Division One again this season.

Due to the works taking place, the club has asked league officials for away fixtures in the opening month.

They will look to book some home fixtures at Stafford Rangers' Marston Road and the Coppice Colliery Ground, the home of Heath Hayes.

They finished 18th out of 20 teams in the division last season but Evans is more optimistic about this term.

Evans said: "We have got a new management team in place this year.

"We have had around 25-30 players turn up to pre-season training and we hope to progress with the new facilities we have got.

"We are in step six now and there is an aim to move up to step five, and then maybe in the next five years or so up to step four.

"We are looking for a steady progression, we won't get carried away but we would like to see a gradual improvement in the long-term."

Everyone at Stafford Town is committed to playing football in the right way and giving opportunities to youngsters.

Evans commended all of the volunteers for the spare time they give up and added: "The club has 33 teams.

"We have under-sevens boys through to under-18s, six girls youth teams, first teams for men and women, two special needs sides and a cerebral palsy group, which is fantastic.

"With the cerebral palsy group, it is fantastic to see them getting involved and you should see how much they all enjoy it. It is something really special.

"Two-and-a-half years ago, we won the Queen's Service award – a group MBE for volunteering – and last month we won the Chartered Standard Community Club of the Year award for Staffordshire.

"We have got some great people who work down here. There are 80 to 90 volunteers who give up their time every week and try and teach the right way to play football.

"Without the volunteers and sponsors, we couldn't do what we do." I am hugely grateful for all of the work everyone here does."