With the final work completed last week on Eccleshall's new refreshment bar kitchen under the # Howdens Game Changer Programme with the Football Foundation, it was officially opened last Saturday before the home league game against Barnton. NWCL Vice Chairman / Ground Grading Chairman, Geoff Wilkinson, did the honours of cutting the blue ribbon before the Eagles' catering ladies began serving hungry supporters with the variety of food on offer.

The transformation from the old facility has been considerable with new units, kitchen hob and extractor, fridge freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher and sink units all provided free to the club under the Programme. The new floor covering was fitted last Thursday to put the finishing touch to the project in readiness for Saturday's kick off.

Club Secretary, Jim Tunney, said: "We applied to the Programme at the beginning of the year and were notified in May that we had been successful. What has been provided has gone way beyond what we expected and will now make a huge difference to what can be offered to supporters on match days. Our kitchen team of Diane, Julie, Liz and Joyce are amazed at the transformation which has taken place, especially the increased room they now have for preparing food. We are grateful to the #Howdens Game Changer Programme and the Football Foundation for what they have done for Eccleshall FC and the further improvement to the spectator experience on match day at the Stoke Signage Stadium".

He continued: "It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the contribution made by the following who were all involved in the delivery of the project -
Chad Freeman, the manager of Howdens Rugeley branch and his team
Nick Wellecomme and Alex Hearn of H&W Installations (kitchen fitters)
Paul Cox of Cox Electrical (wiring)
Gary Clark, club committee member (plumbing)
Gary Barrass (floor covering and fitting)
Club Chairman, Neil Washington, and club committee members (all room preparation work, pre-installation)
All have done a brilliant job and we are immensely grateful for their efforts".

Photo shows Geoff Wilkinson opening the new kitchen with the Eccleshall catering ladies.