And before the ink is even dry on the grant offer, the club, which runs 17 teams and a junior soccer school, is turning its attention to raising a further £50,000, which will be needed to complete the project.

The additional cash must be raised within six months to meet the conditions of the grant from the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund.

Club Treasurer Leroy Payne, who has been the driving force in the campaign to improve facilities in Beeston, said: “It is an amazing achievement to be recognised by the national football organisations. We were seen as the number one priority for investment in this area because we are growing and have great plans for the future.

“We are determined to raise this money. We know we can do it. We are talking to the local councils and grant funders, but we will also need the support of all our players and parents, local businesses and brilliant Beestonians to get this over the line.

“Please support us.”

Can you help? Please call Sarah on 07976 299229 or email trentvalesports@mail.com

The successful scheme will see the number of children and adults playing football at Beeston FC increase from 230 to 350 in five years.

Provided the additional funds are raised, the derelict pavilion at the old Plessey Sports Ground in Beeston Rylands will be renovated, creating four new changing rooms with showers, a function room, kitchen and toilets.

The club previously secured major investment for the site in 2015 only for the scheme to collapse when the land was sold.

However, this investment is secure, with the club only a couple of years into a 99-year lease on the site, thanks to the current owners, Chancerygate and The Bridges Property Alternatives Fund.

Within five years the club will increase the number of teams from 17 to 28, including:

16 male teams, including a senior men’s team and senior men’s reserve team.
10 female teams, including one senior women’s team
2 disability teams (one senior and one junior)

The new clubhouse will help make all that happen and provide a new facility for the Rylands community to use for events, clubs and parties.

“Football is thriving in Beeston and this grant and the money we are going to raise will make a massive difference,” said Leroy.

“Currently, the absence of facilities means that senior teams and upper age group youth teams cannot play at Trent Vale. But even the young ones feel uncomfortable because we have a couple of emergency toilets with no lights in a corner of the building and they hate going in there because it is dark and scary.”

Beeston FC has sought the funding as part of the Trent Vale Community Sports Association. The TVCSA is a partnership between the football club and the Trent Vale Squash Club, which also operates on the site.

The two organisations are committed to improving the facilities at the Trent Vale Sports Ground. While this scheme is led by the football club, the squash club also plans to seek funding for its facilities in future.

The TVCSA has charitable status.