A FOOTBALL club for youngsters whose pitch was ravaged by flooding and drainage problems is celebrating an award of nearly £50,000.

Phoenix Junior Football Club have been handed £47,341 from Sport England to upgrade drainage facilities at their home ground on Broad Oak Lane playing fields.

The problems forced the club to train and play at St Thomas’s Primary in Pimhole and East Ward Primary, costing the club more in pitch fees.

Club secretary Sara Griffiths said: “It is fantastic for the club, will benefit the local community and will go towards ground maintenance and drainage.

“Whenever we had any rain the pitch would carry standing water and it was unplayable.

“The club is expanding and we need more facilities, and having our own pitch back will help massively.”

The football club was formed 10 years ago with just one team, and now they coach eight teams from under 7s up to under 14s.

Mrs Griffiths says that the club is founded on the principle that every child should have an opportunity to play, whatever their ability.

She said: “Our philosophy at the club is to give everyone a chance and playing time. All players are welcome at the club.

“We have had some kids that haven’t been given opportunities at other clubs, and now they have developed so much after being given a chance.

“Sometimes we come home and think we have had enough, but to see the smiles on their faces when they win or get medals at presentation nights is enough.”

One of their players, 19-year-old Chris Ross, who was in their first team 10 years ago, has since gained his FA Level 1 coaching qualification and is travelling to California this summer to teach football for 10 weeks.

The investment is part of a 50 per cent boost to the Protecting Playing Fields Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund from Sport England.

In the latest round of funding, 75 projects were awarded funding, sharing a total of £3.5million, with 14 projects in the North West benefiting from the allocation.

Sport England Chairman Nick Bitel, said: “The popularity of this legacy fund shows just how important good local playing fields are to grassroots sport. I’m delighted that even more communities will now benefit thanks to this extra lottery funding.”