CAMPAIGNERS are hoping to raise more than half a million pounds to revolutionise Winsford’s dilapidated Barton Stadium, with a floodlit all-weather pitch and a 360-seater stand top of the wish list.
United director Alan Johnson is leading the bid for funding to give the run-down ground a much- needed facelift. He is hoping to get up to two-thirds of the money from charitable organisations including the Football Foundation, but wants the people and businesses of Winsford to help raise the remaining £200,000.
But Mr Johnson, 65, who was born and bred in Winsford and has supported The Blues since the age of five, says the change will benefit the whole town – not just the football club.
“The Barton Stadium belongs to the people of Winsford, the club are just tenants,” he said. “We want to create an environment where the people are happy to go and facilities they are happy to use.”
Club directors have promised to pump their own money into the project, but say donations from the public and businesses will be key to the success of the project.
“We’ve already approached Wins- ford Town Council, who have been supportive, and we’re hopeful they’ll help us out,” said Mr Johnson. “And there are 30,000 people in Winsford – if half of them give £10 each we’d be almost there.”
A public meeting was held at Barton Stadium last night (Tuesday) for the fundraising project to begin in earnest. For an update and more on the Barton blueprint, see next week’s Chronicle.
