Cash boost for football

The money will be used to improve facilities and encourage the sport

Football clubs in Bishops Cleeve have been awarded more than £600,000 by the sports charity, the Football Foundation.

A partnership of clubs in the town near Cheltenham, and the local parish council, have been awarded £610,000 to develop senior and youth football in the county.

An additional £30,000 has been granted by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to renovate club changing rooms.

The Foundation awarded £350,000 to Bishops Cleeve FC to replace its wooden clubhouse at Kayte Lane, provide new pitches and offer coaching to children during school holidays.

'Bright future'

And a further £260,000 was awarded for additional facilities at the adjacent Bishops Cleeve Sports Field.

Peter Lee, chief executive of the Football Foundation and Football Stadia Improvement Fund, said: "This scheme underlines the commitment to putting something back into their community.

"These sites will soon become centres for football in the area and will certainly rank amongst some of the best in the South West."

"The future of grass roots football in Gloucestershire looks very bright indeed."