HS2 helps brings local football club back to life with £75k grant

Brackley Town football Club has been given a new lease of life, thanks to help from a £75,000 grant from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund (CEF).

The money was spent on building ‘The Venue’, a brand-new club house. This new location replaced the original building which suffered devastating fire damage in 2019, causing the loss of the bar and club house.  

As well as the bumper funding from HS2, the local supporters have held quiz nights, bonfire nights and initiatives like a supporter’s wall to raise the needed to get the new clubhouse project off the ground.

The club is a vital part of the Brackley community, playing a key role in many lives locally. Over seventeen teams will use the new facilities, and it hosts a series of youth and community programmes, regularly supports over 200 junior players who want to play football.

The HS2 Community & Environment Fund (CEF) and Business & Local Economy Fund (BLEF) have supported over 50 projects across Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, allocating more than £3 million pounds of funding since applications opened in 2017.

Cathy Elliott, Independent Chair of the HS2 Funds, said: “Brackley Town FC has been a part of the community since 1890s and the loss of key facilities in 2019 had a real impact on the continued success of the club. It is inspirational to see how the £75k grant from HS2’s Community & Environment Fund, alongside the support of the local community, has allowed the club to continue to thrive and grow.”

Janene Butters, chief executive officer, Brackley Town FC said: “Brackley Town FC was founded in 1890 where it’s moved all the way through the leagues playing for promotion, if we can, this season. To fundraise for the club, we hosted lots of quizzes and bonfire nights, with a big focus on our supporter’s wall. Without HS2, we would not have been able to have the most fantastic place we’ve got now.”

To find out more about how to apply for the CEF & BLEF programme, please visit: https://hs2funds.org.uk

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