The race is on for members of a historic football club in Farnborough who need to raise £7,000 to fund improvements to its changing facilities, in order to secure their promotion into the next league.
Farnborough Old Boys Guild were crowned champions of the Kent County League One after a dramatic win against Peckham Town in the season’s grand finale.
But since their win, the FA has said the team will not be rewarded with promotion into the Kent Premier League unless the club’s changing facilities are updated in accordance with the footballing organisation’s rules.
In a bid to complete the improvements before early July, players and fans have launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the ball rolling.
Matt Ellis, one of the first team managers, said reaching promotion is a big achievement in the club’s 84-year history.
The 32-year-old told News Shopper: “It’s quite a feat.
“It’s only happened once in the club’s history to get to that standard.”
The Farnborough Old Boys Guild first team. (c.0 Cobra Images.
Mr Ellis, from Petts Wood, described the winning match as “amazing”, but fears players may move to other clubs if they are unable to move up into the next level of competitive football.
He added: “I feel the players that were there deserve to get the prize which is promotion to the top Kent league.”
As part of the required improvement, the club facilities will require a new boiler, six new shower heads, three new toilets, and flooring, as well as materials for plastering, electrics and plumbing.
Many of the club’s 120 members are local tradesmen, willing to donate their time to complete the work if they can reach the £7,000 target.
As a not for profit organisation, the club’s members are desperately seeking financial help to reach their goal, with a variety of sponsorship packages on offer.
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The work has to be completed by July 7, when the FA will carry out an inspection of the new clubhouse facilities.
Based in Farnborough Village, the club has a long history of building from the ground up, from the creation of its clubhouse by volunteers to local business sponsorship.
The Farnborough Old Boys Guild runs four senior Saturday teams which all play competitive league football, and five Sunday teams, including two veteran squads.
To donate to the crowdfunder, click here.
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