Local football club Shawbury United have been fortunate to secure land in a generous offer from a local landowner. The club based in Shawbury with over 240 players, playing in both junior and senior leagues have secured land in the village on which to create a purpose built sports facility.

The land owned by Gerard Verdino, has been gifted to the club on a 99 year lease, ensuring the future of football within the village. The clubs committee have begun a fundraising appeal to raise the money needed to create a purpose built facility for the local community, which will feature five football pitches, a training area and future club house.

Whilst football has been played in Shawbury since the 1960s, the club joined the West Midlands Alliance league in 1992, growing in size in recent years due to development in the village and subsequent increased demand for junior football. The junior teams are currently playing at multiple sites across the village, however these have become too small to accommodate the expanding club and lack toilet and changing facilities. The senior team do not have a Shawbury pitch appropriate for their West Midland Premier League.

Tracie Howells, Junior Club Chair said; “We are delighted to be offered this amazing opportunity to secure the future of junior football within Shawbury. The new facility will allow more children to be able to participate in sport within the village and surrounding areas.”

Without an adequate facility within the village the senior team is currently using Ludlow football stadium. Dave Richards, Shawbury United Chair remarked; “I'd personally like to thank Gerard Verdino and his family for their very kind donation of the land, it means so much to me personally and everyone at Shawbury United football club to have somewhere we finally can call home.”

The new ground’s aim is to create an opportunity for further sport, recreation and community based activities, attracting a wide range of participants from juniors to veterans and also the non-footballing community.

The club would be delighted to speak to anyone who may be able to sponsor the project in any way; for example through donation of services and or materials or offering financial support via donation on crowdfunding: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/shawbury-fc

Photographer- Carl Jones