THE Cheshire County Sports Club in Upton is set to become a mecca for footballers.

The Football Foundation, the UK's biggest sports charity, has handed over an £806,255 grant to redevelop the centre's facilities.

The cash boost will allow the club to construct a modern new pavilion, renovate the existing changing rooms, install a drainage system for the site and appoint a development officer to promote football in the community.

Almost 1,000 new users are expected to use the revamped site, including a significant number of women and girl players. Over the next couple of seasons a new girls' league will be created and local schools will have access to the facilities for games lessons and after-school clubs.

The centre also hosts satellite academies for Manchester United and Liverpool, who will continue to use the ground to identify local talent.

Club director and manager Mark Fearon said: 'The support I have received from the Football Foundation and the Football Association and the size of this award, clearly illustrates the interest our bid attracted, and the successful out-come is a fantastic reward for the effort which was put into preparing a professional and exciting bid.

'This club will now go from strength-to-strength and is well established as the finest outdoor sporting facility in the region.'

Foundation chief executive, Peter Lee, welcomed the latest funding for grass roots football in the county.

He said: 'With more than £2.5m already invested in Cheshire the foundation is offering a new generation of players the best possible start in the game. Thousands of footballers of all ages and abilities are now reaping the rewards of foundation funding.'

Funded by the FA Premier League, the Football Association, Sport England and the Government, the Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities.