Buildbase replays £100k bursary for non-league football club refurbishment programme

[FF News]

Football teams in The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase competitions have another chance to transform their club facilities in the second year of the £100,000 Buildbase renovation initiative.

The Buildbase Club Renovation Programme launching today will help renovate two non-league clubs in England and Wales. Clubs can start making their applications to the programme today, with a deadline to be announced in December and shortlisting in January next year.

The product bursary will provide £50,000 each in building, electrical products and hire equipment to two clubs by the end of the 2017-18 season.

In the first year of the programme, non-league clubs Hanwell Town FC and Cleethorpes Town FC were selected as winners from 40 applications and six finalists. Refurbishment work and product specification is already underway at both clubs, with building materials and advice provided by their local Buildbase branches.

Teams taking part in the two non-league competitions, The Buildbase FA Trophy and The Buildbase FA Vase, can start the application process by registering at https://www.buildbase.co.uk/buildbase-renovation

Clubs participating in the competition can call on local fans to support their application through the Buildbase website and social media until the application deadline in December. Fans who register a vote for their team will also get 10% discount on online orders from Buildbase.

In February 2018 six shortlisted finalists, including three Buildbase FA Trophy and three Buildbase FA Vase clubs, will be invited to pitch their renovation project to a panel of judges from The FA and Buildbase at a "Dragon's Den"-style event at Wembley.

Two winners will be announced at The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase semi-finals in March 2018 and will receive an award presentation for their building products on finals day in May 2018, ready to start renovations over the summer.

Paul Roche, Buildbase Commercial Director, said: "The winners of this year's non-league product bursary are already making a difference to their clubs with the help of local Buildbase branches and the stage is set for another two clubs to benefit from the £100,000 prize in 2018. Just as our business is rooted in towns and cities across the country, non-league clubs are a vital part of the local community and the renovation programme is our commitment to helping them flourish."

FA Group Commercial Director Mark Bullingham, said: "It's great to welcome Buildbase back for a second year. The Club Renovation Programme offers a unique opportunity for grassroots and amateur clubs to implement improvements that will impact positively on their supporters for generations to come."

Buildbase is in the second year of its two-year title sponsorship of The FA Trophy and FA Vase.

The Buildbase FA Trophy is open to clubs playing in Steps 1-4 of The FA National League System the four tiers immediately below League Two of the English Football League. The current season has 276 clubs contesting for top honors.

The Buildbase FA Vase is open to Clubs at Step 5-7 of The FA National League System and the 2017/18 season features 619 Clubs.

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