FUNDED by donations and raffles, the Westbury United Football Club Tidy Up Gang has transformed the “tired” ground, with positive results for volunteers, players and fans alike.
Formed two years ago by ex-WUFC player Terry Morgan, the 10-strong group works to clean up and rejuvenate the Meadow Lane site.
“We have repainted most of the buildings, stands and perimeter wall of the pitch,” Terry told White Horse News. “We have also trimmed large areas of brambles and we spend a lot of time making sure all the grassy areas are kept cut short, also making sure the pitch is in good repair.
“It all coincided with Westbury United FC having a very successful playing period. So I thought we ought to have a ground to match, and organised the other members.”
Membership
Originally there were 12 members of the gang: As well as Terry, there was Roy Dutchman – another co-founding member, who died nearly a year ago – former fellow Westbury United players Philip Alford, Geoff Steer, Keith Harvey, and Paul Board, along with Stuart Fryer, Paul Board, Jim Pike, Adrian Bass, Jacqui Young and Neil Blatchford.
There are now 10 members on a regular basis – all the above except Roy Dutchman, Adrian Bass, Jacqui Young and Neil Blatchford. New members are Peter Strickland and Dave Medley.
All are retired but some still have part-time jobs.
Terry said, “The biggest project at the start was to trim the hedge and brambles that run down the side of the ground.
“The latest, biggest project was to repaint the changing room block to bring our changing rooms up to a good standard.
“The gang repainted the whole of the outside of the changing room block and upgraded the away and officials’ changing rooms.
“The inside of the home team changing room was up graded mainly by the Hulbert family – these being one of our joint managers, Rik Hulbert’s family.”
The next big project is to refurbish the main gate which is in a bad state of repair.
Rewarding work
Terry said, “All of the clean up gang find what we do rewarding, as we can all remember how bad the ground had become.
“This is why the gang has kept its enthusiasm, because we see what the difference is now, compared to two years ago.”
Players and management that have been involved with Westbury United FC for a few years were very complimentary about the work the gang has done, Terry added. “They tell us how they appreciate what we are doing,” he said.
“The newer players and management are only just getting to know of us. The older die-hard fans have told us what a difference we have made. The newer fans would not have noticed the difference as they would not have known how bad the ground had become.”
Through lockdown work continued, albeit socially distanced, with Terry trying to organise jobs so that no two people were working closely together.
“A couple of members had to self-isolate”, Terry said, “but all in all, working in an outside environment of the football club, I am sure it has all helped with our mental health and because of the camaraderie between the gang, it has made it all the more positive.”
They normally meet up on a Wednesday morning, weather permitting, with Terry checking the Country file weather forecast on a Sunday evening and group calling the gang if the forecast is not good, with changes being made if needed.
“The gang are very flexible,” said Terry. “I have been given the roll as gang master (chairman) so the gang rely on me to organise the materials and tools that are needed and the jobs that need doing. But all opinions are heard and acted on,”
The only funding the gang has had are donations from players and supporters. Proceeds from raffles held at home games go towards the maintenance budget.
To raise additional funds, Terry is looking to open the group’s own merchandise shed to sell on match days and via social media – new and used kits and paraphernalia associated with Westbury United. He is also hopeful about organising a Christmas raffle.
The Roy Dutchman stand
Roy Dutchman died nearly a year ago in the process of checking the pitch for divots, when he suffered a heart attack.
The gang is in the process of naming the ground’s small stand The Roy Dutchman Stand.
