Hundreds of football-mad youngsters who play for Eldwick Juniors FC in West Yorkshire have celebrated the grand unveiling of their new changing facilities, which was funded by a £5,000 investment the club won in a national competition run by Gibbs & Dandy.

With the start of the new season just a few weeks away, the changing facilities at Eldwick Recreational Park will change the match day experience for players, coaches, parents and fans alike. Not only will players have somewhere warm and comfortable to get changed, but there's also new hot water installation and kitchen facilities to provide snacks and drinks.

The changing facilities were refurbished by local tradesmen and volunteers using materials supplied by Gibbs & Dandy's Pudsey branch, located on Richardshaw Lane. The official opening took place during a fun day, which was attended by Bradford City's Billy Bantom and Bradford Bull's Bullman.

"The competition, 'Nominate to Renovate', was set up by Saint-Gobain and Gibbs & Dandy for community members to nominate a local organisation they felt deserved some investment. Eldwick Juniors FC won the competition by a landslide, receiving more votes than its closest competitors combined," said Nik Beedham, branch director at Gibbs & Dandy Pudsey. "The new facilities look great and are a massive improvement on what the kids previously had to use."

James Thirkill from Eldwick Juniors FC, said: "Around 200 youngsters, aged from three to 17, play and train with the club on a regular basis and the old facilities were in desperate need of improvement. We couldn't have funded it without this £5,000 investment.

"I'm also really grateful to everyone who supported this project. It was a real community effort and the whole village is proud of what we’ve accomplished. I have no doubt these facilities will be used for many years to come."