Overwhelming community support for Gamesley Sports Court

Residents turned out in force on Friday, July 11, as Gamesley Community Centre celebrated the finale of its fundraising campaign to transform the village’s football sports courts.

Residents turned out in force on Friday, July 11, as Gamesley Community Centre celebrated the finale of its fundraising campaign to transform the village’s football sports courts.

The community has now raised an impressive £44,000 towards its £50,000 target, which will unlock vital match funding from the Football Foundation and pave the way for a £220,000 refurbishment of the ageing courts.

The Football Foundation requires communities to demonstrate both financial commitment and a clear plan for the long-term use and maintenance of facilities before awarding funding, making the fundraising campaign a crucial part of the project.

Joining the celebrations was Mayor Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, who visited the centre to see the impact of the Mayor’s Community Fund, which awarded Gamesley Community Centre funding in January.

The three-year funding package is helping to secure the future of the community centre and has enabled staff to prepare major funding bids, including the Football Foundation application. Mayor Ward was delighted to see such a fantastic turnout from the local community and the enthusiasm shown for the project.

The finale marked the end of months of fundraising, with supporters taking on a variety of challenges to help boost the total. Among the biggest was a community effort to run the equivalent distance from Gamesley to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey over the course of 25 week running challenge.

The day itself featured a three-hour bag blast, including the chance to beat Commonwealth boxing champion Jack Massey’s three-minute bag blast score to win a signed boxing glove donated by the champion.

Families also enjoyed bouncy castles, face painting, darts and children’s activities throughout the day, while volunteer DJ Dave Oakes provided music throughout the celebrations.

As festivities continued, members of Gamesley FC were busy installing new football goals, funded through a separate Football Foundation grant worth just under £2,000.

Centre Manager Helen, who completed many of the miles during the 25 week running challenge, said she was overwhelmed by the support shown by the community.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that so many people came out to celebrate this massive achievement. To have raised £44,000 so far is incredible and shows just how much this community cares about creating opportunities for future generations.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has donated, volunteered, attended events or supported our fundraising in any way. Every contribution has brought us closer to our goal.

“A special thank you also goes to Barclay and Cody, who each organised their own sponsored activities to raise money for the fund. Their enthusiasm has been inspiring, and every single person who has helped should be incredibly proud.

“We’re now just £6,000 away from our target, and I’d like to appeal to any local businesses that would like to sponsor the project or make a donation to help us bridge that final gap. We would be hugely grateful for any support.

“As people can now see, this project is becoming a reality. We’ve achieved the lion’s share of the fundraising ourselves, and the process with the Football Foundation has already begun. Every pound donated now brings us one step closer to delivering these fantastic new sports facilities for Gamesley.”

Once the £50,000 target is reached, the Football Foundation will provide the remaining funding needed to complete the £220,000 renovation of the football sports courts.

The project will create modern, high-quality facilities for local clubs, schools and residents, ensuring the courts remain a valuable sporting asset for the Gamesley community for many years to come.