Local businesses come together for community football teams

Housing association, Aster Group and contractor partners, Bell Decorating Group and Marden Roofing have saved the future of Worton and Cheverell Youth and Sunday football club teams by renovating their club house.

The teams from Market Lavington were faced with exclusion from local leagues because their crumbling club house was deemed unfit for purpose for visiting players.    

When they heard of the team’s plight, Aster’s contracts manager, William Gray and supervisor, Dave Stephens called on their colleagues to lend a hand. The team took advantage of the Group’s volunteering scheme and took time out of their day jobs to install a new kitchen and shower units at the club. Contractors Bell Decorating Group and Marden Roofing also got involved, volunteering their time and materials to provide a new roof and a fresh lick of paint. 

Club secretary, Victoria Goddard was overwhelmed by the support:

“I cannot thank the teams at Aster, Bell Group and Marden Roofing enough – it’s amazing. The clubhouse used to look like a derelict building which was encouraging anti-social behaviour, but now it’s a safe and secure building and everyone can take pride in it.

“This will help the teams go from strength to strength and enable us to support all the local children in our communities to play football and enjoy the new facilities.”

The official opening of the new club house took place on Saturday 11 May 2019 with a family fun day and five-a-side football match between Aster and Worton and Cheverell.

Gary Prince, operations director at Aster said:

“I was delighted so see how our Aster colleagues and contractors got involved with what turned into quite a big community project to save the club house.  One that I hope will bring great joy to the to the young people that use it.”

Aster is committed to supporting its local communities and under the Aster Foundation gives its employees the opportunity to volunteer 150 working days each year to support projects just like this one.