A youth football club, which has transformed its muddy and unloved site into a welcoming home, has thanked supporters for kick-starting the £14,000 project.
Bressingham Playing Fields, which is used by Diss Town Youth Football Club for its home games, had fallen into a state of disrepair following years of neglect.
Muddy pitches were served by a poor car park, while the rundown changing rooms had holes in the ceiling and were inhabited by mice.
Fast-forward to today and the site has been transformed following a monumental effort from parents, businesses and individuals.
Under-11s coaches Rik Hepburn and Kev Edwards do not want to stop there, however, with plans to raise additional funds to help finance a new tea hut.
Mr Hepburn, 42, was a player on the site in the late ‘90s and, when he returned as a coach three seasons ago, saw it needed a big revamp.
“The car park was tired and the pitches were more mud than grass,” he said. “We had some multi-purpose containers up there, which had also fallen into a state of disrepair.
“They were rusty, mice had got in and the one which was once used for a changing room had a three-foot long hole in the ceiling.”
After a rough plan was scribbled on an A4 piece of paper, a steering group was formed and more people soon joined the cause.
“What started out as a group of people identifying there were issues that needed solving, quickly turned into a huge fundraising effort,” said Mr Hepburn. “It was amazing.”
Thanks to a series of fundraisers, people donating money and time, businesses giving supplies and a partial grant from the FA, the site now has new containers and a third pitch, which has just been seeded, while the car park is close to completion.
“The transformation has been nothing short of amazing and is so stimulating for the players,” said Mr Edwards, 51.
“Before, it was so dilapidated, tired and not a very safe environment for the players.
“Now, we have wide open spaces, it is clean, fresh and has been hugely exciting for the players to see the place turned around at such a quick pace. It has been really good.”
The second phase of the project, which has had a JustGiving page set up for it, involves raising a similar amount of money to build a bespoke tea hut.
“The tea hut is an important piece of income for the club and it makes it more welcoming,” said Mr Edwards.
“Playing in the Suffolk League, we have people coming from quite far away, so the hut goes a long way to keeping the club afloat. Plus, it would be nice to finish off the whole site. ”
The pair said the efforts of everyone to change the club’s fortunes would not be underestimated.
“We are incredibly grateful for their generosity,” said Mr Hepburn.
“When we sat down to discuss the project, we knew we had a good community around here, but we have been blown away by the number of people and businesses that have come forward to help us.
“We are not there yet, but, when we first set out to raise £30,000, it felt like such a lot of money.
“Now, seeing what we have achieved in only a few months makes it seem so much more attainable.”
To donate to the project, go to justgiving.com and search for ‘Diss Town Youth’.
