Page 5 - Longwell Green v Welton Rovers 301121

Welcome to Shellards road for tonight's game against Welton Rovers. The final of our trio
of games to celebrate the opening of this brand new brilliant facility. Tonight will be a tough
game against runaway unbeaten leaders but one thing our young developing team will give
us is their best.
The way I see it as Chairman, the facilities will be here for generations to come for players
of all ages to enjoy and will bring together what is already a great family community club.
By doing this we have left a legacy. The project started over 3 years ago when the football
club was approached by the Football Foundation and South Glos Council as a part of their
FA football pitch strategy to provide 3G facilities in local areas across the Country.
We then started down a very long road to apply for various grants mainly through the
Premier League and Government via the Football Foundation and also stadium improvement
fund, floodlight improvement fund and S106 grant from South Glos.

The project funding was also supported by a large sum raised by our junior section over
many years with only the football stands and part of the floodlight system remaining from
the old Western League ground. Having been awarded the grant we then had to go through
the planning process and I can say this was a long drawn out life experience but when you
hear of so many sports projects like this turned down in the City of Bristol I am pleased that
we could work together with South Glos Council to get to where we are tonight.
There have been many people who have helped out on this project. A big thank you must
go to my fellow junior Chairman and Trustee of the Community Centre Neale Saunders
whose financial skills in this project have been invaluable. Also Paul Griffin, from the junior
section together with my Vice Chairman Brad Vickerman and the rest of the Management
Team at theSenior’s. We also needed the support from the Community Centre in this project
and this came from Chairman Chris Wyrill and his Committee.
The Club would like to thank those listed below who have lent their support: -

Toby Savage, Chair of South Glos Council Christine Price South Glos Councillor
Chris Skidmore MP Richard Pope Chair of OldlandParish Council
Member’s of Oldland Parish Council Spencer Mann RLF
Simon Wood SLPC Consultants Matt Boucher GFA
Brendan Dix FA Issie Collins FA
Chris Davies FA Tom Willson FA
Alistair Moore C C Grass Simon Britton Optimum Drywall
All Club Sponsors Tina Rainey South Glos
South Glos Planning Dept Toolstation Western League
Hengrove FC
Tonight we have the pleasure of our Under 7 Team managed by former Longwell legend
Chris Dauncey whose son Charlie is going to be proud to walk out with Player Coach Alex
Grimshaw who first played with Chris here at Longwell when he was a youngster

Hope you enjoy the football.
John Gibbs
Chairman