DARREN Bent admitted he was relieved to get off the mark for his new club when he called in to Huntingdon Town s Jubilee Park ground to back a funding drive at the weekend. The £16.5million man opened his account for new club Tottenham Hotspur against St

DARREN Bent admitted he was relieved to get off the mark for his new club when he called in to Huntingdon Town's Jubilee Park ground to back a funding drive at the weekend.

The £16.5million man opened his account for new club Tottenham Hotspur against Stevenage on Saturday, his first game for Spurs since leaving Charlton.

Bent, 23, who grew up in Huntingdon, spoke at a ceremony marking a sponsorship drive to help fund a much-needed new clubhouse at Jubilee Park.

The England international attended Hinchingbrooke School as a youngster, playing youth football for a number of local sides.

Bent even scored 99 goals in one season for Godmanchester Rovers before he joined Ipswich Town's academy set-up at the age of 14.

The striker told The Hunts Post: "I loved my time playing for Priory Parkside and Godmanchester Rovers and when Darren [Young - Huntingdon Town manager] called I felt it was important to help support a local side at grassroots level."

Bent has been training at the Jubilee Park facility over the summer in a bid to keep his fitness up.

The fund-raising for the new facility at the ground is being driven by Sport Huntingdon - the collective name for Huntingdon Town and youth set-up Huntingdon Rowdies.

The plans for the clubhouse have been drawn up and will include six changing rooms, a bar and a function room when completed.

The total cost of the build will be £750,000, but two-thirds of that amount will be funded by the Football Association - if Sport Huntingdon can find the rest.

Sport Huntingdon vice-chairman Hans Reif said: "We have been in need of new facilities at Jubilee Park for a long time, not just for the comfort of players and fans but to maximise our income through functions.

"For the FA to pledge half a million pounds to us is fantastic and we will be exhausting all local funding options as well; for the benefit of both the senior and junior sides.

"However, we are still looking for local sponsors to make up the funding required and we would encourage interested businesses to get in touch."

Once the clubhouse facility is complete, there are plans to erect a 213-seat stand at the ground, on the side of the pitch where the dugouts are at present.

Huntingdon Town manager Darren Young said: "We are delighted that Darren [Bent] was able to come along and publicise our cause at Jubilee Park. Pre-season training has been going well, with some good turnouts, and we look forward to trying out lots of different lads in the pre-season friendlies."

Huntingdon Town begin their pre-season campaign at Jubilee Park on Saturday, when local rivals St Neots Town are the visitors.

INFORMATION: Anyone interested in sponsoring the new facilities at Huntingdon Town should contact chairman Hans Reif on 07793486460.