Burnham United Football Club raises money for new roof

Graham Smith said the clubhouse is "a central hub" of the community"

A grassroots football club is raising money for a new clubhouse roof.

Burnham United Football Club, which was set up in 1926, has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help fund the work.

A grant from the Football Foundation will cover much of the cost, but the club still needs to raise about £9,000.

"We've been patching the roof up for many years but it's now beyond repair," Graham Smith, a coach for the club, said.

"We just need to raise the extra money to make sure the club exists for the next 25, 50 years."

On the fundraising page, the club said the roof "is in desperate need" of being replaced and is currently leaking.

First reported by Burnham-on-Sea.com, it added the quoted cost of the new roof is £35,000.

The roof had been patched up many times over the years but is now "beyond repair"

The club sees about 200 children, aged between five and 16-years-old, come to train regularly and about 180 adults.

"What we offer is a pathway all the way from five-years-old up to if you wanted to play at 55," Mr Smith said.

It also offers a home for the darts team and Burnham's local ladies hockey team.

On the fundraising page, the club said the roof "is in desperate need" of being replaced

"It's a central hub to the community. Football is about being inclusive," Mr Smith added.

"Grassroots football is about fun and development.

"When my son wanted to start playing, that's what got me into coaching juniors. It was a way to spend time with him.

"During the lockdowns we discovered how important it is to have social interactions with other people we don't normally see."

The crowdfunding page has raised more than £1,500 so far.