CLUB SCORES pounds 20K; Joy for young footballers at grant success.

Byline: DAVE ROBSON

IT'S almost as good as winning the cup! Junior footballers are celebrating after netting a grant to keep vandals off their pitches.

For years, the pitches at Grangetown Youth and Community Centre have been plagued by bikers churning up the grass and yobs setting fires and leaving broken glass.

Now the Football Foundation has awarded a pounds 20,000 grant to fence the pitches in.

The award completes a pounds 35,000 funding package to erect fencing around the three pitches used by junior teams at the Broadway site.

Redcar and Cleveland Council contributed pounds 10,000, with the remaining money coming from various sources, including local businesses.

Club chairman, Peter Quantrill, said: "This is going to make so much difference. We've had real problems over the years, with motorbikes tearing across the field and even burnt-out cars left on the pitches.

"Now we've got 120 young lads who are absolutely thrilled - and so many people to thank, including pensioners Alan and Mavis Peacock, who gave the first pounds 25." Football Foundation chief executive, Paul Thorogood, said: "We warmly congratulate the club and the local FA for their hard work and dedication in securing this award." The council's Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor

Sheelagh Clarke, said: "This is wonderful news. Our Grangetown ward councillors, Lynn Pallister and Peter Dunlop, have worked hard to help bring about this successful bid..

"I am sure the development will have a very positive impact." *The Football Foundation is funded by the Premier League, the FA and the Government, with a pounds 40m budget..

CAPTION(S):

THRILLED: Youngsters from the Under-8 and Under-9 squads with coaches Trevor Coulton and Peter Quantrill and Cllr Lynne Pallister