ASTON Villa and USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan paid a special visit to Rugby to oopen Rugby Town’s recently refurbished clubroom.
The new facility was built using a £100,000 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which provides grants towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities.
The funding has enabled Rugby Town JFC, who currently run 52 teams, to create a new clubroom at their Kilsby Lane home for both players and parents to use before and after matches.
It now comprises of a kitchen and bar facilities, projector for team briefings and coach education sessions and a lounge area.
And the club will work closely with the Birmingham FA to deliver a wide range of FA coach education courses at the site.
In addition to the new clubroom the club will also extend the existing car park, purchase new pitch maintenance equipment and create two junior real grass pitches with proper drainage systems.
“It was an honour to open the excellent new clubroom at Rugby Town JFC.” said Guzan.
“The investment provided by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, has enabled the club to offer a stunning facility for local grassroots players to utilise all-year round.
“I’ve seen how essential it is that young players have a safe and secure environment in which to enjoying playing football. This new facility will help this impressive club attract more local youngsters to the sport as well as get more coaches qualified, which is vital if we are to give youngsters proper coaching.”
The Kilsby Lane site, including the large clubhouse and 11 real grass pitches, was originally developed in 2004 with a £951,789 grant from the Football Foundation’s Funding Partners.
Liam Coulter, chairman, of Rugby Town Juniors FC, added: “We now have an area that can be used in many different ways at the club. We’ve already booked in FA Level 1 and 2 coaching sessions along with welfare courses.
“With 112 volunteers we are constantly sending coaches all over the Midlands but we know have a great learning environment of our own to utilise.”
