The Camels asking for help to win £100,000 super-grant
South-west regional winners of this season’s Budweiser Club Futures grant, Camelford FC, are calling on football fans in the West Country to help them win a bumper £100,000 to regenerate their local football club.
The Budweiser Club Futures programme is a grant scheme available to clubs at Steps 5-7 in Non-League football (levels 9 to 11 on the pyramid). Eight clubs from different regions of the country have already won £50,000 to overhaul their facilities, and now Camelford face competition from the other seven winners for the solitary £100,000 super-grant. They were presented their cheque by City boss Paul Tisdale.
Camelford, who play in the South West Peninsula League on Step 7, submitted a winning entry which included plans to install solar panels at their ground in order to support the club’s sustainability over the coming years. If they win the super-grant, their intention is to build a clubhouse, which would improve the experience of visiting teams, generate income in the longer term, and provide facilities to be used by the local Beaver and Scout group. In addition they would like to make further improvements to their ground, in order to consolidate and improve their Youth Development which currently have five age groups between under-7s and under-16s.
Additionally, having these facilities available would also increase their credentials for entering the FA Cup and FA Vase. The Camels are currently eligible to apply for both, but the facilities at Trefew Park currently fall short of the criteria which will allow them to host FA Cup matches – so the super-grant would be hugely welcome to fulfil their ambitions on the pitch, as well.
Mark Tapley, Chairman at Camelford FC, said: “Winning this grant is already a massive boost for our club, but winning an additional £100,000 would mean so much more. We are the only team in our league without a clubhouse and winning the super-grant would provide this opportunity for us. This would create a more welcoming experience to visitors while providing facilities to raise funds to support the running of our club.
“We also would love to purchase additional land to support the development of our youth teams.
“All the clubs fundraising is currently done with the aid of the local community but in these economic times this is becoming increasingly difficult. Such projects seem a long way off but winning the super-grant would make these dreams a reality.”
The voting polls are open until Thursday 28th February, and you can vote to support Camelford’s bid through the Budweiser Facebook page by clicking here or through the FA Cup Facebook page by clicking here.