The new 3G Barrett Steel Stadium together with improvements to surrounding grass pitches was made possible thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government's Football Foundation.

After netting a £1,148,490 grant from the Football Foundation, work began on the site on the 5^th January 2023 with the dismantling of the old Stadium and removal of the grass pitch.


 
The grant has enabled Bottesford Town Football Club to now organise and plan for all age groups to undertake their training and play their home football games at Birch Park utilising the new 3G playing surface. 
 
The new facility comprises a latest ‘state of art’ 3G playing surface complete with drainage, new pitch side perimeter fencing and the replacement of the spectator hard standing areas surrounding the pitch, together with 2 off new 75 seat covered stands, The grant also provided for ancilliary equipment inclusive of goals and dug-outs, together with pitch maintenance equipment. The complex has been completed with the installation of 4.5m perimeter fencing incorporating acoustic cladding adjacent to residential areas.

A secondary element of the Project has seen the levelling and formation of new grass playing areas complete with drainage which will bring new pitches into play during 2024.
 
The new development has replaced grass playing areas which were prone to flooding during periods of adverse weather resultant in the cancellation of matches due to water-logging and creating issues with fixture rescheduling and the need to use other facilities. The new playing surfaces have eradicated the issues associated with damage from chafer grub infestation which once again played havoc with pitch availability.
 
The site will predominantly be used by all 25 Barrett Steel sponsored Bottesford Town FC teams ranging from Under 7 year old boys & girls up to and including adult teams for training during midweek evenings and match play at weekends.


 
Partner Clubs who have already committed to use the facility are the Scunthorpe Iron Foundation (formerly the Scunthorpe United Community Sport and Education Trust) for both their training and home football matches together with the Lincoln City Football Club who have recently signed a Grassroots Partnership Agreement to commence in September 2023 providing the opportunity for young players in the area to progress into Academy football.
 
This still leaves ample opportunity for other community organisations to hire the facility both during the day during the week and in the evenings. Our Barrett Steel depots (BCD Tubes, Barrett Central Processing and Kass Steel) will all be utilising the pitch for local friendly games and fundraising matches for the local branch of Mind Uk. 

The new facility will further support the development and the growth of the Club’s disability and inclusion membership whilst at the same time looking to encourage more girls into football as identified in their Development Plan
 
The Club worked in partnership with the Lincolnshire County FA who with the support from the North Lincolnshire Council produced the Local Playing Pitch Strategy document which helped to  determine the viability of the project prior to securing the support from the Football Foundation..
 
Tony Reeve, Chairman of Bottesford Town Football Club said, “It has been a long process spanning some 6 years when we first announced our intentions of seeking a 3G facility, but once we obtained the support of all stakeholders, the Football Foundations Framework process demonstrated the distinct benefits that it provided in comparison to the traditional methods of contracting resultant in a project delivered safely, on time, and in budget.

Our special thanks go to Professor Sir Jonathan Van Tam and Sam Slocombe for undertaking the ‘Official Opening’ of the stadium, the Premier League, The FA and Government’s funding through the Football Foundation, together with funding from the North Lincolnshire Council and the SSE Sustainable Development Fund which has provided this excellent facility which will enhance and support the development of Grass Roots Sport for the foreseeable future.”
 
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Bottesford Town Football Club is now open to the public after receiving Football Foundation investment.
 
“Good quality facilities support the health of local people and communities, which is why we’re investing in projects like this across the country with funding provided by the Premier League,The FA, Government and Sport England.”


 
For more information about our sponsored teams follow Bottesford Town on Facebook here.