Lane club ready for its spruce up

3:44pm Wednesday 7th January 2009

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By Steve Carley »

WORCESTER City will this weekend take a major step on the road to bringing much-needed funds into the club.

Following Saturday’s scheduled Blue Square South match against Maidenhead United at St George’s Lane the social club will close for refurbishment.

Work is expected to take around a fortnight and it is hoped the venue will be open in time for the visit of Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday, January 24.

The plan is to redecorate the club on both sides of the partition and make it inviting for fans and players, with the inclusion of Sky Sports on large-screen televisions also being looked at.

A programme of fund-raising events has been drawn up to include bingo, quiz nights and cheese and wine evenings. An auction of promises, ladies’ day and sportsman’s dinner are also in the pipeline.

The social club has come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks for the way it has been managed in the past.

It has since been wound up and Jon Prescott, the director employed as its manager, has agreed to a redundancy package.

New director Cliff Slade will oversee the improvement project and volunteers are being sought to help on Sunday between 10am and 4pm.

Revamping the social club is just one of the ideas to come out of the fund-raising workshop held at the Lane last week. Another scheme will see Under 16s admitted free with a paying adult for each home game until the end of the season.

Jim Panter, City’s new vice-chairman, said: “Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraising meeting held on December 30 and to everyone else who has contacted the club with their ideas and suggestions.

“We have listened to and considered all that you have had to say and we will be implementing a number of initiatives.

“The one area which came in for most attention was the social club and its role as both a venue where we want people to feel welcome and to look forward to visiting, and its ability to generate funds for the football club.

“The plans for the club have come about from your suggestions but we need your help to see them through.”

Limited facilities could be in place for the rearranged game against Newport County on Monday, January 19 as City look to fill the revenue gap left by the original game’s postponement.

Panter said: “It was desperately disappointing to have lost the game on New Year’s Day.

“We had anticipated about 300 fans coming up from Newport but we are not anticipating that number of fans will make that journey on a Monday night.”

Anyone able to volunteer help can send an e-mail to admin@worcestercityfc.co.uk or telephone the club on 01905-23003.