AFTER their financial struggles in recent years, these are exciting times for Millbrook Football Club.

While the lockdown and coronavirus has been very tough for many people, Brook have had a very fruitful few months.

Mackenzie Brown has returned as the club’s first-team manager; they have refurbished their clubhouse; and they have received confirmation of a Football Foundation grant to do further ground improvements at Jenkins Park (pictured below).

It leaves them eager for the start of the South West Peninsula League Premier East season.

Chairman Mark Pratten and several volunteers have been busy carrying out the refurbishment to get the clubhouse ready in time for the start of the new season.

‘In the last four years since I have been chairman, it has been a very difficult ride, but in January we became debt free,’ he explained.

‘Then lockdown came and we closed on March 15, and really at that point, there weren’t any plans to continue with the phase of refurbishing the clubhouse.

‘But we had an issue with the fire alarm, and it was clear we needed a new system, so we got the work carried out, and I was stood in the club and just decided it was time to get the refurbishment done.

‘I have known for some time it has needed bringing back to life, but we have never had the finances to do it.

‘In total, we removed nearly eight tonnes of stuff that didn’t need to be there.

‘I spoke with the committee, and said I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I just got on with it, helped by friends of mine who are an electrician, a plasterer, and friends of friends, and everything we have done has been through amazing volunteers, friends of mine and other people within the community, and we have all dug in really.

‘The transformation is just incredible.’

The club have also received email confirmation of a Football Foundation grant.

‘That will allow us to finish off the concrete paving around the ground; 100 new seats in the stand; and a new tractor and mower deck, so we are upgrading the machinery we have got,’ he said.

‘That is another massive step forward for us.

‘We have also put new fencing in at the ground, and there has been a lot of investment in the playing surface.

‘We had a professional come in and do that, and that is now looking fantastic and the best I have seen it

‘These are exciting times for everybody at Jenkins Park, and there are so many positives to look at for us, and everything is heading in the right direction.’

by Nigel Walrond