Our aim is to invest in our players. One means of doing this is to develop the best facilities we can within our budget limitations. Given that no major sponsor is available, we can only take small steps over a period of time.

Bournemouth Sports Club (BSC) requires major investment in changing room facilities. This is a current priority for the Club Trustees. However, funding is very limited and no major development is yet in place.

Last summer, BSC decided to demolish the Portacabin changing rooms used by BSFC. The facility was very old, it had been persistently vandalised and, over the years, temporary repairs to roof and fabric had been insufficient to prevent year-on-year deterioration. The Club management felt that it could not justify the significant expense required for a substantial refurbishment to take place.

It was at this point that BSFC struck a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with BSC. We offered to refurbish the Portacabin facility from our own funds. In return, we obtained a degree of exclusivity. BSC would continue to pay the utility bills, but maintenance and improvement would become the responsibility of BSFC.

Work has started!

A full roof repair was completed either side of Christmas 2014. This was an essential first step. No interior improvement was feasible without making the Portacabin waterproof. Three new external doors have been fitted.

At the time of writing, basic repairs and improvements are being carried out in the ‘home’ section. This includes converting one changing room into an office, which will be used for club administration.

It may be possible, in the present tranche of work, to do basic repairs in the central section of the Portacabin as a temporary ‘away’ changing room. Ultimately, we would like this to serve as a discrete ladies changing area.

A number of photographs were taken on 3 January 2015 showing the current state of play and these will be posted on the website.

If we can find sponsors or donors much can be achieved. I would ask anyone who would like to support our changing room refurbishment to contact Steve Ellis:

steve.ellis09@yahoo.co.uk.

We would be happy to offer naming rights either to the refurbishment as a whole, or perhaps a sponsor might be found for individual changing rooms. All donations will be acknowledged on our website, on social media and, where we can, in the local press.

The refurbishment is currently being carried out by Simon C. Hawker, local builder. He comes highly recommended. Contact him at simon@simebuild.net.