Thetford Town FC officially unveiled their brand new clubhouse and upgraded changing pavilion recently (Friday 16 March). The project was made possible by a grant from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) – the largest funders of non-league football in the country.

The funding has enabled Thetford Town FC, which plays in the East Counties League Premier Division at Step 5, to install a state-of-the-art new clubhouse and make much-needed improvements to their existing changing facilities. The Norfolk club, which was originally formed in 1883, is delighted with the upgrades.

Thetford Town FC’s original clubhouse was built in the early 1950s and was no longer fit for use by a modern football club. The brand new facility will provide better support for the club’s needs and includes a social space, kitchen, meeting room and toilets.

The club’s existing changing pavilion has also been reconfigured and refurbished as part of the project. This has included developing a home team changing room with new showers, creating a new officials’ changing room with en-suite facilities, and remodelling the existing social area to provide storage and an office.

The improved facilities will benefit Thetford Town FC’s nine teams, ranging from the Under-8 to Veteran level. The more comfortable changing provision and brand new clubhouse will provide a better environment for all club members, as well as improving the club’s sustainability for the future. Thetford Town FC hopes that this will help them not only to retain existing players, but also inspire new ones.

The project was made possible by a £100,000 grant from the Premier League, which is delivered through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund – the sister organisation of the Football Foundation.

Funded with £6.5m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF – the sister organisation of the Football Foundation – is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game. These improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.

David Skipp, Vice Chairman of Thetford Town FC, said: “Our new facilities will not only benefit the club but also the community by providing a safe venue for sports and social activities. The funding from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, and the Breckland Council have made this project viable. We also had a very generous sponsor for this project who wishes to remain anonymous, this help has made the three years hard work worthwhile and all the teams within the club will benefit from this great project.”

Peter McCormick OBE, Chairman of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, said: “Thetford Town FC’s new clubhouse and changing pavilion is really going to benefit their players, and I’m so pleased that investment from the Premier League, through the FSIF, has helped them to make this project a reality – just one of many projects they are funding across England.

“Their money is being used to upgrade infrastructure and create safer, more comfortable environments for players and spectators at all levels. This is so important, not just in helping to inspire love of the game, but also in helping clubs ensure the safety of its members.”