HORIZONS are excitedly expanding for Poppleton Tigers Junior Football Club after a massive injection of £375,000 in funding.

But there is still much work to do to realise the artist’s impression of developing and modernising the clubhouse.

This past week players, management and coaches revelled in the cash boost.

The Football Foundation – a sports charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and Government – contributed £225,000, boosted by an additional FA grant of £150,000 as part of their capital allocation within the Whole Sport Plan agreed with Sport England.

This double tonic enables Poppleton Tigers JFC, Poppleton Girls and Poppleton Ladies to build a new four-changing room clubhouse, with meeting and training facilities, as well as officials’ changing rooms, a kitchen and toilets.

More than 300 players and 20 teams, who play at the Millfield Lane base, will benefit.

Club secretary Val Duggan said: “We would like to thank Gary Limbert and his colleagues at City of York Council, as well as Poppleton Community Trust and the Upper Poppleton and Nether Poppleton Parish Councils for their support and financial help.

“We would also like to thank Paul Butler of Paul Butler Architects Limited for the imaginative design of the clubhouse.”

Poppleton have also raised more than £80,000 in the last two years towards the project.

But Duggan added a further £20,000 needed to be “urgently” realised to complete the new £500,000 clubhouse.

A disco and dance will be held at Manor School on Friday, November 26 with music by the International Party Doctors and indian food included in a price of £15 per person.

There is also a a buy-a-brick scheme at £50 a brick, while local businesses are invited to sponsor a room, in the new clubhouse, from as little as £1,000.

For details check the www.poppletonjfc.btik.com website.