Final funding secured to turn Dales sports dream into reality

Reeth and District Community Sports Club's dream of updating facilities, building a new pavilion and floodlit pitch is to come true this month after getting the final funding approval.

The project is one of the largest undertaken in this remote rural area –which even includes bringing in a supply of electricity to the sports field.

As well as 35,000 raised by residents, funding has come from the Football Foundation, Sport England, North Yorkshire County Council, Richmondshire Council, Reeth Parish Council and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Athletic Club chairman Steve Porter said yesterday: "Six years ago we had a pipe dream – now it is to become a reality. We believe these facilities will lead to greater active participation and will extend the sports range far beyond the established football and cricket.

"And with the facilities open from 10am until 10pm it will mean people of all ages and abilities can access sport without having to make a 50-mile round trip to the nearest large town."

The new facilities will include a pavilion with modern changing rooms and showers as well as storage for maintenance equipment.

Improvements will also be made to the playing area and a floodlit multi-use games area will provide opportunities for playing other sports including tennis, netball, basketball, hockey, five-a-side football and bowls.

The Football Foundation, a sports charity funded by the Premier League, the FA and the Government, is the largest individual contributor, having awarded the project 344,444.

Chief executive Paul Thorogood said, "We warmly congratulate Reeth and District Community Sports Club and the North Riding County FA for their hard work and dedication in securing this grant from the Football Foundation. The new facility will greatly improve sports provision for the local community."

County councillor for the Upper Dales, John Blackie, also closely involved in the project, added: "In a survey nearly every household in the two dales very strongly backed the project and the local fundraising has been fantastic."