Wincantons' Premier Outdoor Recreational Facility

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WIncanton Town FC Manager Mike Cooper receives the manager of the month award for September from Dorset Premier League Chairman Mike Mock.

CLUBS ARE GOING STRONG AFTER GROUNDS TAKEOVER

Volunteers, who took control of a sports ground, say it is now thriving after they overcame initial teething troubles.

Wincanton Sports Ground is making good progress and is set to have its multi-use games area resurfaced.In May, football and tennis clubs complained about rent increases and membership fees charged by ground owners the Wincanton Recreational Trust, but a new business plan has helped to forge stronger links with all clubs at the Moor Lane site.

The newly restructured management committee said the ground is now going from strength to strength. Committee chairman David Norris said: "It's going really well at the moment. We are particularly pleased with the way football is going; it is doing sterling work down there".

"There is a real buzz around the pavilion. The senior football club has had a successful recruiting period and has taken over the grounds maintenance.
All the clubs are on board with the business plan. The licence agreements with the clubs is the next thing. They are terribly important for the clubs, to give them the security they need".

"The success we are seeing is down to the sports ground members. We are entirely dependent on volunteers. We are making good progress but we are not in a position to relax; there is quite a lot of work to be done."

He said the sports facilities were even more crucial because development work was ongoing for another 500 to 700 houses in the area.

"We have a project to resurface the multi-use games area with astro-turf. We are a long way down the grant approval stage and have been working very closely with the Football Association.

"We want to have this games area in by the end of this year. It will give a fantastic training facility for youth football and a new avenue for us to explore. It will be suitable for five-a-side football as well. The second phase of work scheduled for the club is to double the size of the multi-use games area, but that will require substantial funding."

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Dog Training Classes

We are pleased to report that dog training classes are now held at the Sports Ground. For further information please see the link on the left.