£50,000 of improvements at Helston Athletic Football Club

The club revealed this week it had been successful in its bid for four grants totalling £43,400 towards an LED upgrade of its stadium floodlighting at Kellaway Park and the purchase of new grounds maintenance equipment.

The grants come from the Premier League Stadium Fund, the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, Persimmons Homes and Helston Downsland Charity, and make up just over 82% of the overall costs, with the remainder being funded by the club.

The floodlight project will see the current lighting replaced with energy efficient LEDs, which the club said should result in a 50% reduction in energy consumption, whilst also reducing the club’s carbon footprint.

Unlike the currently installed light fittings, the replacements will be galvanised to eliminate corrosion issues. They will also improve overall pitch lighting levels and reduce light spillage.

The contract for the floodlight upgrade has now been signed off with the club’s chosen supplier Musco.

Chairman Paul Hendy told the Packet that it was hoped work would be completed by the end of June, in readiness for the start of the 2024/25 football season in July / August.

Floodlights will be replaced with LED lighting (Image: Paul Hendy)

Funding was also awarded for new grounds maintenance equipment, to support the purchase of a new mower and slitter. The club said both items of equipment would prove “invaluable” towards further improving the quality of the club’s six pitches.

The 2022/23 season was considered by many to have been the most successful in The Blues’ long history.

It now has 24 male and female FA affiliated teams, ranging from under sevens through to open adult, many of which are again competing for end of season silverware.

Paul Hendy said: “This latest funding will further help enhance the club’s facilities for players and spectators alike. On behalf of the club, I would like to thank all sources of grant funding.”

Daniel Greenough, Cornwall FA Football development manager, said: “It is great to see Helston Athletic continue to apply for available funding to both improve and maintain its facilities. I have always been a big believer in if you don’t ask you don’t get!

“With this mind set, Helston Athletic are accessing funding that is supporting the development of football and their local community. Great work.”

Explaining the reason behind Persimmon Homes’ grant, sales director Jane Cartwright said: “One of Persimmon’s core missions is to leave a positive and lasting legacy in the areas we build, so we are delighted to award our second Community Champions grant to a Helston-based organisation in less than four months.

“Helston AFC is not just a great club with players people love to see play – it is a community with a commendable volunteer force behind it, and we were just glad to be able to help them as they fundraise for new floodlights.

“We are delivering hundreds of new homes in the town and no doubt the generation that will grow in those homes will go on to be dedicated fans – and even players – for their local club.”

Money has also come from Helston Downsland Charity, with chair Melissa Benyon saying: “Helston Downsland Charity is pleased to be able to support projects that are helping improve community facilities as well as considering their environmental impact.

“The charity wishes the club well for the future.”

The news has been welcomed by Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, which also gave a grant towards the project. He said: “The Football Foundation works closely with our partners The Premier League, The FA and Government to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like these across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“The grants awarded to Helston Athletic is fantastic news for the local community and will help further improve the enjoyment of football for both those who play and spectate.”