EP get grant for ground improvements

The money, from Football Foundation supporters The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, will enable EP to install an additional 50 seats at their ground to comply with ground grading criteria in Division 1 of the County League.

EP committee member Terry Doyle said: “This grant has proved a lifeline to us. As a club, we have made massive progress on the field in the last two years and need to ensure our ground also progresses with the team.

“Without this grant we would have struggled to finance the ground improvements required. The club and the village are grateful to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund for their support.”

The FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game, and is funded with £6m each year from the Premier League.

FSIF chairman Peter McCormick said: “I am delighted that my colleagues and I have been able to award this grant to East Preston to allow them to install additional seating at their home ground.”