BERKHAMSTED RAIDERS CFC AND ASHLYNS SCHOOL CELEBRATE SUCCESS,

Despite the disappointing performance of the England team in the World Cup, Berkhamsted Raiders Community Football Club and Ashlyns School In Hertfordshire are celebrating today after hearing of the success of their joint bid for funding from the Football Foundation for the BerkoAstro Project.

The grant for the BerkoAstro 3G floodlit football pitch combined with the football development plans that support the project is the kind of good news that depressed England fans want to hear. “England’s success depends on the quality of facilities and the coaching and development initiatives that take place through youth football” says Berkhamsted Raiders Chairman, Keith Pollard.

The Football Foundation has approved a grant to a maximum of £255,000, supplemented by a grant of £45,000 from the Football Association. The grant funding will provide a total of £300,000, around half the total cost of the facility. The remainder is being generated through the combined fundraising efforts of the school and the football club. Currently, another £40,000 is required to fully fund the project. The BerkoAstro project team is confident that the success of the Football Foundation bid will stimulate the additional donations and funding which are needed to fully fund the development.

The generous grants from the Football Foundation and the Football Association will enable construction of BerkoAstro to begin shortly and will provide a fantastic playing and training facility for the town by November 2010. The pitch will substantially ease the pressure on the existing facilities in the town and help promote the development and enjoyment of football throughout the wider Berkhamsted community.

“We are thrilled to receive this funding and the endorsement for our partnership sports plans from the Football Foundation. We look forward to developing our sports provision in and out of school hours and are delighted that Ashlyns will continue to be a central community resource. We’d like to thank all members of our school and extended community who have worked tirelessly, and given generously, to achieve this”, says James Shapland, Head, Ashlyns School.

“We are absolutely elated that the Football Foundation has awarded us this grant,” says Berkhamsted Raiders Chairman, Keith Pollard. “Berkhamsted Raiders has grown incredibly over the last five years to 500 members this year, and this facility is really going to help us go from strength to strength. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has raised funds, donated and supported the project to date.”

Local businesses and potential sponsors wishing to contribute to and support BerkoAstro are asked to contact Berkhamsted Raiders or Ashlyns School now that the BerkoAstro dream has become a reality.