A FOOTBALL club is within touching distance of a new clubhouse after the community rallied round to raise almost £150,000.

Charlbury Town Football & Sports Club was left homeless after giving up its premises in 2016 to accommodate the town's new community centre.

But after three years of committed fundraising, the club is just months away from moving into its new home at the Nine Acres Recreation Ground.

Club secretary, Amanda Cooper, thanked residents and organisations who helped raise the money and said the new building will be worth the wait.

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She added: "It's been three long, hard years but our committee have worked so hard to get where we are today.

"Everyone has been so supportive and the town council has done everything it can.

"Each and every one of them has played their part in creating a sports club for everyone."

Oxford Mail:

The club formed back in 1908 and has boasted a youth team for more than 70 years, but has lived in uncertain times over the last two decades.

From 1998, it spent 18 years in temporary premises after losing its social club, while it again had to move in 2016 due to the building of the community centre, which opened one year later.

Since 2016, the club's small committee and supporters in the community have secured planning permission for the new clubhouse and raised tens of thousands of pounds.

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A large chunk of the total came in the form of a £70,000 grant from Charlbury Town Council, which was supported by 74 per cent of residents polled before the funds were awarded.

The plans also received a £50,000 boost from West Oxfordshire District Council's community fund, while the club itself has raised £28,000.

Oxford Mail:

Work on the new clubhouse has already begun between the community centre and the tennis courts at Nine Acres Recreation Ground, where the club's various teams play.

It is set to open in December, with the club envisaging a space that can host live televised sporting events and games of pool, darts and aunt sally.

The club also wants to host family events throughout the year, including an Easter Egg hunt and Halloween and Christmas parties.

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Ms Cooper hopes the community will make full use of the space, with the club in the blood of many residents.

She said: "For so many people, it's something they've grown up with.

"I started working behind the bar in the previous clubhouse and I'd always enjoyed watching Charlbury play and it just went from there. I've never left."

Oxford Mail:

The club has already pledged to invest profits from the clubhouse back into adult and youth football in the town, plus other sports played at the recreation ground.

It is a huge part of life in the West Oxfordshire town for several residents and boasts two men's teams, boys sides from ages four to 16 and a thriving women's team.

The majority of funds for the clubhouse have already been raised, but you can still donate online and even buy a brick in the new building.

Visit charlburytownfsc.co.uk to make a donation.