BRACKNELL Town FC’s exciting new redevelopment plans will benefit the local community, not just their own supporters, writes Dave Wright.

The Larges Lane club are planning to sell a small part of their ground to a developer for housing, with much of the expected £1million income being used to improve facilities.

Chairman Chris Day said plans include a crèche for those using the nearby Bracknell and Wokingham College, classrooms for sports studies courses for teenagers, after-school clubs and, hopefully, a small sports hall for the disabled to use.

He said: “Floor plans have been drafted for these community uses.

“There was a delay while confirming the Larges Lane boundary with the highway authorities but we are aiming to submit the plans very soon. Our time-scales are looking very tight as the intention was to get permission granted in time for the work to commence at the end of this season.

“But we are hoping that the local council are behind us.”

Bracknell’s plans also include a 3G pitch, which will be used by Ranelagh School and others during the week.

The club are not enjoying the best of fortunes on the pitch, but following the appointment of new manager Mark Tallentire, who has brought in a lot of experienced players, the team’s results have improved in recent weeks.

“I am confident we will soon start to move up the table,” added Day.

Supporters are certainly getting behind the team. The attendance for their Christmas holiday derby with Ascot attracted a crowd of just under 300, the biggest for a Hellenic League game this season.

“There was a great atmosphere at the ground on that day and we now hoping that we can get over 200 at our future home games,” said Day.

“We are hoping that some of our fans will also want to get more involved with the club, as we are always on the look out for more help. This includes pitch and ground works, match-day gatemen and ball collecting.

“We are also keen to recruit an administrator or two to assist with finding more sponsorship for the club at a time when the future of Bracknell Town is looking exciting.”

Bracknell’s local Hellenic League rivals, Binfield, are also in the process of making major changes at their ground in Hill Farm Lane.

The plans include refurbishing the clubhouse and building new dressing rooms, improving the car park and barriers around the pitch, as well as a new hard-standing area behind the goal nearest to the clubhouse which will also have access to the club’s two other pitches.

In the last two months the club has received visits from the Football Association and Berks & Bucks FA.

They gave Binfield the go-ahead to apply for funding and applications will be made to the Football Foundation’s stadia improvement fund, Sports England, SITA – Landfill Communities fund, Tesco local communities fund and Bracknell Borough Council.

The club are hoping to hear back from them within the next few weeks.

In the meantime, Binfield are inviting contractors and builders to tender for the work at the ground.