Funding success lights up Earlsmead

By David Watters

Harrow Borough

Ryman League Harrow Borough's Earlsmead Stadium will soon have some of the best floodlighting in football.

Thanks to a major grant from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), the Ryman Premier's Boro are also looking forward to saving money on their energy bills and cutting the club's carbon footprint when a new system using less bulbs and the latest technology is installed.

Club officials are now pushing ahead with plans after announcing this week that they'd received a £10,712 grant from the FSIF, supporters of the Football Foundation and the largest funder of Non-League football in the country.

Harrow Borough's delighted Chairman Peter Rogers believes the new system will make a huge difference in their community and help secure their future at Earlsmead.

Rogers said: "We thank the Football Stadia Improvement Fund for their fantastic support without which the project could not take place. They have made a significant contribution to the continuance of football at the Earlsmead Stadium. True football supporters and the local community are much in their debt."

Funded with £6m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league grounds in both the professional and amateur game. Improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.

Peter McCormick, FSIF Chairman, said: "I am delighted to be able to award Harrow Borough FC this grant to improve the floodlighting at their grounds. FSIF staff work hard to make sure that the funding that is generously provided by the Premier League each year goes as far as possible and benefits as many clubs and supporters as it possibly can."

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe