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Baker targets New Year Return to Parish Field (
November 26, 2009)
WESTFIELD Football Club is hoping to return to its Parish Field home at the start of the new year.
The Parishioners have been playing their home games at neutral grounds since their clubhouse was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Sunday September 20.
Vice-chairman Kevin Baker said: “Our target date is January 2. It’s a date we think will take a lot of getting to, but the (Sussex) County League wanted a date and so did Hastings United (whose Pilot Field ground they’ve used for four matches so far). I’m not sure everything will be up and running by then, but the main aim is to get the changing rooms completed.”
Sussex County League ground grading requirements for Division Two football include separate changing facilities for both teams and officials, as well as a bar area.
Baker estimates that it will cost £40,000 to get up and running again. He has applied for various grants to help foot the bill and is awaiting replies to his applications.
Portable buildings will be used for changing rooms and the clubhouse, and electricity was due to be reinstalled this week.
A number of club members have worked hard to get things back on track, none more so than Dan Foster with his 50.3-mile run, and the local football community has really rallied round.
“A lot of people have worked very hard to bring money into the club at a much needed time. An awful lot of friends have come out of the woodwork,” added Baker, who praised the co-operation of the Sussex County League, particularly Peter Bentley, and Hastings United.
The fundraising efforts towards the club’s Phoenix Fund continued with a karaoke on Saturday night and the next event is a Christmas party on Saturday December 19.
After that there is an evening with Jo Brand at the White Rock Theatre on Saturday January 30. Tickets, which are selling fast, cost £15 and are available on 462288.
A curry and disco night is lined-up for Saturday February 27 at The Plough pub and an auction of various items of memorabilia is planned for March.
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