A FOOTBALL team is celebrating after scoring funding from Burley Community Council.

Burley Juniors Football Club has been granted permission to carry on using a pitch at Scalebor Park Hospital when it is turned into a housing development.

Burley Developments Plc is allowing the team to stay on and have part funded a revamp of a pavilion at the site.

The team, which has several sides of youths between the age of eight and 17, ran short of cash for grass cutting and glazing of the pavilion.

John Reeves, chairman of Burley Juniors, made a plea to Burley Community Council, on behalf of the team, to help bridge the gap.

He said, at a meeting of the community council: "We do not have a great income. And we have had considerable expenditure. I would like to make the request to the council that it considers a contribution of all or part of the expenditure, with the proviso on our part that it will be well-kept.

The council took only minutes to reach a unanimous decision to pick up the £365 tab, with a special grant.

Mr Reeves said he was delighted at their decision.

He said: "Can I thank you for considering this request and agreeing to support us. It is much appreciated. I am sure that the players will be very grateful too."

Bruce Speed, who chaired the meeting, told the Gazette the council was more than happy to sponsor local projects of this kind. He said: "The community council is trying to support various youth initiatives in the village and that seemed to be a particularly good one.

"The other thing that we are trying to do is to encourage the adults who are supporting these young people."