STAMFORD Bridge Junior Football Club are issuing an appeal to local businesses to help spruce up their Low Catton Road home.

The ever-growing club have been given a Portakabin and plan to refurbish it to provide much-needed changing rooms and toilets for junior members.

Officials hope the completed building will also include a kitchen and small café area, which will enable the club to boost their fundraising opportunities on match days by providing teas, coffees and snacks.

Mick Lawson, chairman of Stamford Bridge said: “The junior section of the club is growing fast and now has 190 members, and 40 per cent of these are girls.

“Providing suitable facilities is an urgent priority for us.”

The donation of the building was initially secured by Ellie Whytock, Eve Walters, Hannah Robertson and Natalie Lynch from the girls’ under-13s team.

As part of a fundraising project, the girls wrote to Shepherd Construction explaining the lack of facilities at the club.

They were then invited along to Shepherds to meet the boss and were offered a nearly new Portakabin free.

The club are now tackling the task of getting the building into use and have recruited a small army of local businesses – most of whom have pledged free labour and some free materials as well – and parents to provide the labour.

Members have also been working hard to raise funds to complete the renovation and have managed to secure a couple of small grants.

Jayne Barker, fundraising committee member, said: “The girls have done a fantastic job securing the donation of the Portakabin and we are extremely grateful to Shepherds Construction for their generosity.

“We are delighted with the response we have had from parent volunteers and local businesses – but we still need more. The provision of the Portakabin is a great opportunity for us and we will be working hard throughout the summer to have the building ready for the new season.”

“We would like to say a huge ‘thank-you’ to the following businesses for their ongoing support: Monks Cross Tiles and Bathrooms, Total Landlord Solutions, K&D Skip Hire, Barker Joinery & Construction, Daniel Warren Plastering, D & K Painting, Jackson Building Components and Judge Electrical.”

She added: “We still need support and if anyone is able to help, we would be extremely grateful for donations of building materials, kitchen units and white goods, tables and chairs and we also desperately need a plumber.”

If anyone is able to provide any assistance to the club, they should phone Barker on 01759 373799.

Meanwhile, the U13s trounced Brooklyn 9-0 in the City of York Girls’ League Championship.

Emma Nelson netted four goals for table-topping Stamford Bridge, while Jess Wills and Ellie Whytock scored twice and Niamh Cusack also got on the scoresheet.