3G Astroturf Project

Dear All,

Chilcompton Sports Charity, set up in 1997 to provide sporting and recreation facilities for the village of Chilcompton and the surrounding area, has been investigating and developing plans for a new 3G pitch in place of the current, aged and in-need-of-repair, tennis courts on our site in Chilcompton. Sadly, the persistence of inclement weather far too frequently renders the site unplayable, resulting in the cancellation of youth football training and matches throughout the winter months and the importance of children being regularly active has sadly had to take a back seat. As a temporary remedy and at significant cost to the football club, external 3G venues have been used for training purposes to ensure continuity of participation for all age groups, but this detracts from the culture of the ‘one-club’ philosophy that binds us all together, and takes children off-site.

With the creation of a 3G pitch that will be available throughout the year, not only will Chilcompton Sports youth football club - of some 250 members, from the ages of 4-16 - be able to train and play every week, additional community and sporting activities can take place, such as walking football, five-a-side football training, matches and tournaments, activity birthday parties and myriad uses beyond. With the current floodlighting, the new pitch could be used all day and every day of the year, meaning it will not only provide excellent training facilities and opportunities for current club members, but a chance for the charity to hire it out and derive further income to meet other exciting challenges and opportunities in the future. The 3G pitch will provide a safe, year-round training environment for all age groups and adult players alike and will be equipped with a pedestrian viewing area for friends and families.

With work anticipated to begin in May this year for completion within 4-5 weeks, Chilcompton Sports has been working hard to acquire the best and most appropriate designs of, and source the funding for (the majority of which we now have), a quality pitch that will address the club’s needs through the coming decades. However, we still need additional funds to meet our target requirement, and this, we hope, will be met – in part or wholly - through the generosity of charitable donations. Chilcompton Sports Football Club is extremely fortunate to have a wealth of invaluable voluntary parent support, with many dedicating hours of their time, obtaining coaching and child welfare qualifications, training the children and organising match-play in all winds and weathers, as well as those who help in a variety of ways on the side-lines or raise funds through charitable events. This 3G installation will provide a better environment for them all, both the club, volunteers and the wider community, and each of us involved in creating this project would be grateful for even the smallest of contributions. We thank you for any help you are able to give.