YOUNG footballers in Highworth will get access to superb new facilities after a massive cash windfall from the UK's largest sports charity.

The coffers at Highworth Junior Football Club have been boosted to the tune of £477,631 by the ever generous Football Foundation and that money has been earmarked to develop a new state of the art changing pavilion at the club's recreation ground.

The grant finally allows Highworth officials to press forward with a project that has been nearly a decade in the offing.

Club Chairman Bernard Berry said: "We've been planning the changing facilities for nine years and originally applied for lottery funding.

"After seven years the funds were switched to the Football Foundation so we put in another application and two years on it has been successful.

"The total cost of the project is £566,000. The Football Foundation have covered 85 per cent of that and the rest has been raised by the club.

"Planning permission is in place and work should begin in April with a completion date at the turn of the year."

There are currently no changing areas for the club's six mini soccer teams and five junior sides and it is hoped the new facilities help boost participation levels, particularly amongst girls.

Links have already been established with local schools to increase opportunities for budding players and over the next couple of years the club hope to have started at least five new teams.

Berry added: "We have 188 children at the club and now we will have a top facility so they won't have to change by the side of the pitch or in their parents car anymore.

"All of the hard work put in by the club has paid off with this wonderful grant from the Football Foundation.

"And it will benefit the children of Highworth now and for many generations to come."

Highworth's windfall comes hot on the heels of Hellenic League club Shrivenham FC netting £215,652 to revamp their changing facilities.

Chippenham and Cirencester Town have also benefited from the Football Foundation in the last 18 months.

Funded by the FA Premier League, The Football Association, Sport England and the Government, the Football Foundation has a £53 million budget to filter down to grass root levels.

Foundation Chief Executive Peter Lee said:

"Millions have now been invested by the Foundation throughout Wiltshire and the South West and I congratulate Highworth for their hard work and ambition in bringing some of the best facilities in the area to their town.

"All communities deserve the type of facilities that will soon be available in Highworth."

With Highworth's youth set-up expected to grow as a result of the funding, the club are looking for volunteers to help run and administer the teams.

Anyone interested can contact secretary Frank Higgs on 01793 520761.