Work begins today at Alsager Town to rebuild the clubhouse that was ravaged by fire in July 2011.

Funding for the work has been sourced via a grant of £85,860 from the Football Foundation, and the new pavilion will comprise a new meeting room, kitchen area, and disabled, male and female toilet facilities.

Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government (via Sport England), the Football Foundation is the country’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded around 8,000 grants worth more than £420m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £520m.

Terry Greer, Alsager Town Chairman, said: “Had we not been granted this fantastic award by the Football Foundation, I couldn’t foresee the club being able to replace the building”.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Alsager Town F.C. has been extremely energetic and has worked tirelessly in partnership with the Cheshire FA to secure this funding, and I am thrilled to see their hard work rewarded with this substantial Football Foundation grant.

“The Foundation is committed to supporting projects like this one in Alsager and right across the country with money generously provided by the Premier League, The FA, the Government (via Sport England), who have been our core funders since 2000”.

Town Press Officer John Shenton explained: "Work begins today on surfacing the new car park area, and work on the foundations for the club house building will begin in a couple of weeks time.

"Once the building is in place, we have to put in trenches, for electrical cabling, water supply and waste, and after that we can begin to fit out the clubhouse.

"Our target is to have the clubhouse all ready and completed by Boxing Day, when we are scheduled to host Winsford United".