The base has been built for a solid future

PRIZE: The FA Trophy and Vase in the colours of this season’s finalists

PICTURE: Alamy

BUILDBASE say they will “pass the ball” to the next sponsors of the FA Trophy and FA Vase after six years supporting the Non-League game.

The builders’ merchants are to step down as title sponsors of the national competitions having invested over £500,000 in grass roots football since 2016.

During the Buildbase reign, no fewer than 24 clubs have benefitted from annual renovation bursaries to help them buy building materials to refurbish their facilities.

Renovation projects have included overhauling club houses and kitchens, replacing changing rooms and shower facilities, investing in floodlights, refurbishing stands, as well as creating community gardens and function rooms.

Many of the projects have gone beyond football to offer new facilities to local community groups and to help clubs become more financially self-sufficient.

Nigel Hunt, chief executive of Hanwell Town – one of the Buildbase bursary’s first winners in 2017 – told the Buildbase blog recently: “Achieving the bursary was unprecedented for a club like ours. It gave us the push to prioritise projects, get help with costs and was a springboard for where we are now.”

Buildbase have also formed a successful partnership with The Non- League Paper, acting as title sponsors of the annual National Game Awards.

Reflecting on the additional support provided to the Non-League game, Megan Hill, marketing manager at Buildbase, commented: “Grassroots and Non-League football clubs are the heart of their communities. Our branches play a similar role for local builders and tradespeople, so getting close to, and helping local clubs always made sense to us.

“It’s been both rewarding and humbling to see the tireless work done by non-league club volunteers and we’re so glad to have played our part in that over the past six years.”