WORK has started on Malvern Town FC’s £80,000 clubhouse expansion as part of exciting plans to build its role in the community.
The club’s managing director Chris Pinder announced to fans in a New Year’s message that the revamped building – part of the HDAnywhere Community Stadium – will be modernised in a bid to boost the club’s community achievements in years to come.
Work includes expanding the club house with a larger function room, new kitchen and toilets.
To fund the project, £50,000 has been contributed from the Big Pickersleigh Project with the remaining cash being funded by Mr Pinder.
The club house is currently used as an extra way of generating income by bringing fans to the stadium so they can watch live Premier League and other big games on its big screen technology.
Mr Pinder told the Observer work is on track to be completed before the end of the season.
“It’s fantastic to see work has started and I know that progress is good,” he said.
“We are right on schedule to finish our six to seven week refurbishment plan to modernise the club.
“Fundamentally we want the club to be a force of good in the community and need our facility to offer more beneficial work than being just a bar.”
Mr Pinder added the facility is already working with Fortis Living to improve the club’s digital outreach and will help people with low computer skills to pay their bills, council tax and much more.
He said: “Day time use of the club is something we want to see increase and hopefully, the modernisation will make our club house the best in not only Malvern, but the county.”
Along with developments to the club house, Malvern Town are also looking to improve their car park which is expected to cost between £40,000 and £60,000.
However, funding will not be coming from the £80,000 already being spent on the club, so it is hoped a professional tarmacking company can start work in the near future.
“Upgrading the car park is more of a luxury so we will need to find the funds to cover the costs,” he added.
“We want to improve our ‘kerb appeal’ so that we are more attractive on the roadside.
“If we could get a local tarmacking company to come in and help that would make a huge difference to our club.”
