New Forest-based Lyndhurst Football Club and Lyndhurst Parish Council are working together to build a new sports pavilion for the club

Lyndhurst Football Club and Lyndhurst Parish Council are working together to build a new sports pavilion for the club, replacing the existing changing rooms and tea hut, which are nearly 50 years old.

The existing facilities have seen better days, and the club’s current leagues could kick them out if they do not meet the required standards, so a crowdfunding page has been opened.

Sarah Coulson, who founded the club’s U15 side, said: “Every season, more and more teams fold. If you look through various leagues, the older the team gets, the fewer teams there are for that age group. That’s really sad for those players who wish to keep going.

“We are a small village football club, and we don’t bring in as much money as bigger clubs. We have a GoFundMe page, but at present, it isn’t doing as well as we would like.

“It’s essential to ensure we can provide football for all.”

As it stands, the New Forest club, which has existed since 1885 with Lyndhurst Juniors Youth Football Club established in 1984, has many teams ranging from U5s to a seniors side, and they are hoping to start girls’ and women’s teams once a new pavilion is built.

The new building on Wellands Road will cost between £750k and £1m to build. The leaseholder is Lyndhurst Parish Council, which has applied for and been granted planning permission for the new pavilion.

Melanie Wathen, who works for Lyndhurst Parish Council, kickstarted the crowdfunding page.

The building plans include modern changing rooms, toilets, a club room with a kitchen and a bar, all of which will be built to FA standards.

For more information or to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/build-a-new-sports-pavilion-at-lyndhurst-football-club