Football Foundation August column – The Boatmen’s home comforts

Pic: Southern Daily Echo

Hampshire-based Hythe & Dibden FC can focus on progression from the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One following the opening of their new £101,000 Clayfield Sports Centre home.

The project was funded by the Premier League through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) – an annual commitment of £5.2 million towards projects to improve the comfort and safety of lower league grounds.

A friendly with local rivals Fawley AFC officially opened the ground as the club’s new home, in a 2-2 draw. Local MP, Dr Julian Lewis, was in attendance and cut the ceremonial ribbon before kick-off.

The MP for New Forest East heaped praise on Hythe & Dibden FC and the FSIF, saying: “The upgraded facilities will be of great benefit to both players and spectators.”

Supporters can also now enjoy the safety and comfort of a state-of-the-art 100-seater main stand.

A grant of £70,546 from the FSIF meant the club could carry out extensive works to their home ground, which included the installation of new floodlights, boundary fencing and dugouts.

With a new-and-improved home, the club can now fulfil the ground grading requirements of their league and those immediately above.

The club’s chairman, Dave Cox, spoke of the benefits of the new facility, saying: ‘‘The floodlights will extend our hours of play.

“Our new home ground is a much safer and well-structured place for our training and matches.”

The club can now also hire out its facilities to help earn extra income, by running tournaments on non-match days.