‘OLD and tired’ changing rooms at Westbury United FC have had a free facelift that would have cost thousands were it not for donations from local firms and hard working volunteers,
Players returning back to the ground when the game was allowed to restart after lockdown got a real lift from the revamp, club chair Greg Coulson told White Horse News.
“The old changing rooms were old and tired,” he said. “They dated from before the war and in my six years here, this is the first time they’ve had such a big makeover.”
Both the home and away facilities were painted, new tiles and surfaces were laid in the shower rooms and new doors and signs fitted externally.
“Both rooms have had hours spent on them,” said Greg. “We’ve got a new manager in place and they have set out to refurbish the changing rooms. The manager’s son fits offices for a living and when he was furloughed, he spent two weeks working full time here, on the rooms. We’ve had donated timber and paint and new bits from local companies.”
The changing room transformation is the latest accomplishment of the team of volunteers who over the last two years have been tidying up Meadow Lane Ground.
On behalf of the group, Terry Morgan said, “The team consists of myself, Keith Harvey, Geoff Steer, Philip Alford, Stuart Fryer, Pete Strickland, Jim Pike, Dave Medley, Adie Bass, Paul Board, Herbie Blatchford, Jacqui Young, Geoff Marks, and until his death recently Roy Dutchman.
“We are now in the process of re-painting the tea hut and storage container and turnstyle shed – with a list of other jobs still to do.
The next big project we have to undertake is the fitting of lengths of fabricated angles that have been supplied free of charge by Westbury Park Engineering Ltd. These angles will be fitted in our small stand that will hold a white rigid board. That is being produced by Fine Signs of Westbury. This board will be printed with The Roy Dutchman Stand.
“Roy Dutchman was one of our team of volunteers who sadly died whilst re-pairing divots on our pitch and our small stand is going to be called The Roy Dutchman Stand because of his loyalty to our club.
“We also intend refurbishing the main entry gate with the kind help of MJC Construction, who has kindly agreed to straighten one of the main posts that is currently leaning.
“I must say a big thank you to the following people and companies who have continually supported us: Kay and Alex of Westbury Domestic Solutions who monthly free of charge either clean the clubhouse or the changing rooms. Also Adrian Harvey for the free use of his petrol-driven garden maintenance tools. Also old and young Steve Wordley of 1st Call Skips who supply us with free of charge skips and Ian Meaden of The Menu Shop of Warminster for the free-of-charge supply of room sign boards.”
