Lyndon House Playing Fields Development

Latest news : January 1st 2010 (for more details ~ press page down)

• The full project to re-develop the site includes the building of a changing room pavilion incorporating 4 players changing areas, 2 referees changing areas, equipment stores, managers’ office, a coach education suite and a kitchen facility, along with a car parking area for up to 70 cars. In addition to the building, the project also involves improvements to the football pitches including the levelling of the playing surface and installation of improved drainage facilities. (more info below)

• The total cost of the development is in the region of £800,000 (eight hundred thousand pounds).

• The Club has invested approximately £15,000 to date in the project, and has committed to providing the same amount again as our contribution to the development.

• Planning permission has been granted.

• We have the full backing of the FA (50% funding).

• We have a significant offer of financial support from Hyndburn BC.

• During March, with the support of a group of players aged from 14-19, we are due to submit a bid to Lancashire County Council for funds from the Youth Bank Capital Fund.

• Other major funding sources have been identified for approach post the LCC bid.
  If you know of a funding source or can help in any way...
  please ring Andy Counsell 07791 499365 or Mark Pickup 07990 551521
   

Overview of Project

New building plans (click to view)

Playing fields (click to view)

Rovers are nearly three years into a 25 year lease of Lyndon House Playing Fields. We have been in lengthy and detailed discussions with the Lancashire Football Association, the Football Foundation as well as local and County Councillors and officers of Hyndburn Borough Council and have received full support in writing from the Lancashire FA and Hyndburn Borough Council for this project. In addition we have given at least two presentations to the public of Great Harwood at Area Council meetings and have also received full support and backing from those meetings through unanimous votes of support. The full project to re-develop the site includes the building of a changing room pavilion incorporating 4 players changing areas, 2 referees changing areas, equipment stores, managers’ office, a coach education suite and a kitchen facility, along with a car parking area for up to 70 cars. In addition to the building, the project also involves improvements to the football pitches including the levelling of the playing surface and installation of improved drainage facilities. When complete the facility will provide a first class sporting and leisure facility for the whole of the local community. In addition to providing match and training facilities for the Club’s 250 (approx) junior playing members, the facility will be offered out to local schools, clubs and associations for them to hold events of their own – e.g. sports days, garden parties and fetes, fundraising events. The kitchen facility will provide a revenue stream for us in providing teas, coffees and snacks for our parents, players and spectators on match days. This would also be available to other clubs and associations when holding their events at the venue.  

There is a severe shortage of quality sporting facilities, not only in Great Harwood but in the borough of Hyndburn as a whole. Prior to signing the lease on Lyndon House, at least 10 of our teams were forced to play their home games outside of the town of Great Harwood. Some teams had to travel as far as Witton Park in Blackburn just to fulfil a home fixture. This involved additional organisation, transport costs and the obvious environmental impact of 5 or 6 cars having to make a 15 mile round trip for a home game. We are now able to play in our home town but the facilities available are extremely poor quality and need improvement. The completion of the building and pitch improvements will allow us to expand our role within the community to help increase participation of groups such as the disabled, ethnic minorities and girls in football and sport in general. Although Great Harwood Rovers are the driver behind this project it is hoped that the completed facility will be used by a wide range of people within the community of Great Harwood and the locality.