Easingwold Town FC are looking to a bold future after the opening of their new £448,336 clubhouse at the Stillington Road base.

The outstanding new facilities were funded with a Football Foundation grant of £337,696 as part of the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP), a Government-funded scheme, managed by Sport England, and earmarked specifically to develop links between the junior clubs and their local communities. A further grant from the Football Foundation of £52,307 went towards the project.

Easingwold Town, who were formed in 1992 and currently field teams in the Leeper Hare York and District League first division and Reserve B', were identified last year by the Football Association as being eligible for CCDP investment.

Around nine years ago the club's junior section was established. The rapid growth of the junior section has contributed to the club outstripping its previous clubhouse and changing-rooms.

This development project has also enabled the club to buy and develop further grass pitches, rebuild the tractor shed and provide car parking.

It will also open up access to football and other sports for the local community, especially groups like women and girls, disabled players and will also enable many local coaches in the area to become fully qualified.

Said Stuart Revell, chairman of Easingwold Town FC: ""We are absolutely delighted with the support given by the Football Foundation, Sport England and the CCDP.

"Our junior secreatry Peter Nottage continued to grow the membership to its present 250 and achieved Charter Development Status three years ago, while Dominic Rawcliffe, one of our coaches, has project-managed the whole development and first-team captain Mark Coulson co-ordinated our FF application.

"The new clubhouse, built by Ken Skillbeck and his team from Franken Properties is something we can all be very proud of and is undoubtedly one of the best in North Yorkshire.

"Ken actually played for Easingwold Town more than 35 years ago and many of his workforce still represent the club on a Saturday afternoon.

"Thanks too must go to Alf Boddison and Stuart Burton who this year celebrate 50 and 45 years as club treasurer and secretary respectively. Without their dedication and commitment, none of this would have been possible."

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "I am delighted that Easingwold Town now have the facilities to be playing a vital role in developing the grass roots game in their area."

Sport England regional director Stewart Kellett also enthused about the project. He said: "This investment will have such a positive effect on the development of the sport at all levels in this area."

The club has also been given two vouchers for high quality Nike football strips and equipment worth £400 each, as part of the Football Foundation's Junior Kit Scheme.