PLANS to make ambitious improvements to the ground of a football club from Llay have been handed a huge boost following a hat-trick of generous donations.

Hollingsworth Group, Bellway and Anwyl Homes donated a ‘game-changing’ sum of £3,000 to the Welsh National Premier League side, Llay Miners Welfare FC.

The donation will go towards the building of a new enclosure for the Llay Miners’ ground in a project which would move them closer to top level status in Wales.

A 132 metre long anti-climb, plastic-coated metal fence with two gates has been purchased with the donation to the club which produced the former Wrexham and Spurs striker Chris Armstrong.

It is hoped that the new fence will enable the volunteer-run club to create a secure perimeter for the first time in its 89-year history since being founded in 1931.

Club president and former player Vaughan Parry said the club’s management team had been working hard for 12 years to transform the facilities in a bid to help the team reach the elite level of their league.

Mr Parry said: “We managed to raise the money to build the stand, create a walkway around the pitch and install a kitchen area for half-time refreshments.

“But the one thing which we haven’t been able to achieve, and something we have been talking about for such a long time now, is to create an actual stadium with secure fencing all the way round.

“This fencing is a game-changer for us. It has given us the massive new boost we have been looking for and it really does mean so much to us.

“It means we can now look at the pitch and grounds with pride. It is a huge step towards creating more of a professional feel to the club which will put us on a much more even footing with other teams in the league.”

Llay Councillor Rob Walsh added: “Llay Miners Welfare FC is run primarily on the hard work and good will of its members, so getting such a terrific financial boost to do something on this scale is a real plus.

“I would like to say thank you to the three companies involved for investing in what is such a great club and so well thought of in the Llay community.

“Any additional funding the club gets, I know will be of great value to them and the future of this terrific community organisation.”

The new fence which comes after the sponsorship boost from the three construction firms also means that the club now has a much needed new revenue stream.

Mr Parry said: “Because of the added security the fencing will give, it means we can leave our goals and nets up on a permanent basis which will save our dedicated volunteers time on match days.

“Crucially, what it also does, is allow us to now start charging a small amount on the gate on match days.

“It won’t be much, just one or two pounds, but this will create a vital new revenue stream, and this will provide funding towards much needed equipment and fees which we need to keep all three of our teams going.

“Before now, because the pitch is so open, we have had no real way of monitoring or controlling spectators on match days.

“The fencing will change all this because there will be limited access points and volunteers will be able to stand on those gates to collect the entry fees as people go in.

“We are absolutely chuffed to bits to have this support from Hollingsworth Group, Bellway and Anwyl Homes and we cannot thank them enough.”

Phil Dolan, Managing Director of Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: “We were pleased to be able to help Llay Miners Welfare FC with a donation towards the improvement of their facilities.

“The passion and ambition from all members of the club, to develop the team and create more of a stadium experience for visitors, is evident and we wish them all the very best for the future.”

Paul Hollingsworth, Group Managing Director at Hollingsworth, added: “They give up so much free time for the club and care deeply about strengthening its future and developing it for the young players coming through in their Colt team.

“I just felt it was extremely admirable and so we all got together and felt the £3,000 was something we could reach for them as a partnership and make a real difference for the club and the Llay community.”

David Williams, Managing Director for Bellway Homes North West, said: “It’s been fantastic to offer this investment to Llay Miners Welfare FC and hear about how valuable it has been for them.

“It is a club which is clearly held in great esteem by its players, management and fans and we are delighted to have played our part in making a difference to their facilities.

“There’s a lot of hard work which goes on the background to support the club and we felt that they thoroughly deserved our support to contribute towards their ambitious and admirable plans for its continued success and future.”

The new fence around the Llay Miners Welfare FC ground is non-permanent and is expected to be dismantled during the cricket season and erected again during the football season.

The three construction firms who donated the money are currently working together on a new development of 360 homes at Home Farm on Gresford Road in Llay.