FOOTBALLERS in Huntingdon could be changing in a new £1million clubhouse by the end of the year after securing a major grant. The money has been made available by the Football Foundation to Sports Huntingdon, the umbrella body which includes the Hunting

FOOTBALLERS in Huntingdon could be changing in a new £1million clubhouse by the end of the year after securing a major grant.

The money has been made available by the Football Foundation to Sports Huntingdon, the umbrella body which includes the Huntingdon Rowdies youth teams and Huntingdon Town FC.

The new facility, which is expected to cost a total of £1.1million, will cater for thousands of footballers who use the pitches at the out-of-town Jubilee Park site every season.

Sports Huntingdon must raise the remaining £100,000 through local sponsorship for the work to be completed. However, it is hopeful work on the clubhouse will get under way this summer and may be completed by the end of the year.

Ray Deans, chairman of Sports Huntingdon, said: "This is brilliant news - it is what we have been striving for. It will benefit more children in the area now and for many years to come."

The site plays host to 16 different teams that cater for around 190 children and 110 adults. At present, players are forced to change in temporary buildings, while a power failure earlier this month left the ground unusable.

The new facility, which already has planning permission, will include six changing rooms, three referee's rooms, a first aid centre, club room, kitchen and bar area, committee room, toilets and storage areas.

Hans Reif, chairman of Huntingdon Town FC, said: "This is a fantastic award for our two clubs and the site and we hope that the community will help us raise the final £100,000 towards the total project cost."

Allan Dalrymple, life president of Huntingdon Rowdies, described the news as 'wonderful'.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, which is the UK's largest sports charity, added: "Sports Huntingdon will now be able to play an even bigger role in developing the grassroots game in its area.

"Since its launch in 2000 the foundation has funded 33 projects worth more than £4.3million across Huntingdonshire and we welcome more applications from the region's schools and clubs."

Mr Deans added that he hoped the award would speed up the road improvements and crossing the A141, where 16-year-old football fanatic Warren Hay was knocked down and killed last year.

Warren had been on his way to watch a football match at Jubilee Park when the accident happened and members of an action group set up in the teenager's name met with Sports Huntingdon officials on Monday night.

The news of the development at Jubilee Park comes a fortnight after St Neots Town took possession of their new £6.8million ground at Loves Farm.