report & pictures Paul Jackson
BOXING legend Ricky Hatton was on hand to help officially open a new £50,000 major upgrade at Culcheth Sports Club.
Hatton, who was welcomed to the club by Chairman, Len Hart, followed with a question and answer session.
The former multiple world champion at light-welterweight, who also one at welterweight and now works as a boxing promoter, entertained the crowd with his hopes and dreams for his beloved Manchester City, his excitement regarding the wonderfully successful British boxing scene and also pledged his support for further fundraising events.
When he previously guested at a sportsman’s dinner he helped raise £8000 which provided the working capital required to apply and successfully be granted a Biffa Awards grant, to carry out the extensive upgrade to changing rooms and shower facilities.
Also present were Gary Hunt of Steve Hunt partnerships who were the designers and architects, Rachel Burns and Ted Whitworth, both from Biffa and the workmen Nick, Phil and Keith who did a lot of the building work.
Donald Borland, Grants Officer, announced that further plans are already in place to apply for monies from various sources to continue the club’s development with a new Ladies and youth changing facility to bring them up to the high standard of the recently opened changing areas.
The new development resulted in four completely refurbished changing rooms for teams, two officials’ changing rooms and two showering facilities, along with a new heating system.
Biffa Awards are a multi million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.
Gillian French, Head of Grants, Biffa Award said: “Transforming the changing rooms at Culcheth Sports Club will hopefully help to increase membership, and engagement in sport. Projects such as this are an excellent example of how the Landfill Communities Fund can help to create outstanding facilities for the community. “
A club spokesman said: “The new facilities meet modern standards and with this grant from Biffa Awards the club aim to increase club membership and sports participation in the surrounding area.”
Stuart Nightingale, chairman of the Football Club, who play Cheshire County football, said: “This grant has enabled us to continue our work to grow the club. We increased the number of teams using the facility from five to seven in September 2015 with two youth teams having joined the club.’
“This year we are pleased to announce that a women’s team have been formed and will start playing in September 2016.”
Ricky Hatton performs the official ribbon cutting – Pictures Paul Jackson
