New sponsors will pick up the bill!

20 Jan 2017 By David Watters

The EVO-STIK League Southern's clubs are in the running to spend £200,000 on renovating their grounds with cash from FA Trophy sponsors Buildbase.

Announced on Thursday and running over two years for clubs across England and Wales playing in the FA Trophy and FA Vase, Buildbase will donate £50,000 in building and electrical products, in addition to hire equipment, for two clubs in 2017, and another two in 2018.

After the two 2017 winners are unveiled in March, they'll be officially presented with their awards on the second Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on May 21 with renovation work on their grounds starting over the summer.

Clubs taking part in Non-League's newly sponsored showpiece competitions must register on the Buildbase website to be eligible for the windfall. Participating teams will be expected to call on fans to support their application through Buildbase and social media over the next two months.

In February, six shortlisted finalists, comprising three teams in each cup competition, will pitch their project plans to a panel of judges from the FA and Buildbase at Wembley before this season's winning pair are chosen.

FA commercial director Mark Bullingham believes Non-League teams will greatly benefit from the initiative by Buildbase who replaced Carlsberg this season as the sponsors of the FA Trophy and FA Vase in a three year deal until the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

He said: “This scheme could be a real boon for clubs wanting to expand, attract more supporters and become a real hub of their local community. It will be both the Non-League community and local fans that become the beneficiaries too, which can only be a good thing.”

Buildbase CEO Kate Tinsley added: “Our branch teams are already an integral part of their local communities so it’s brilliant to be able to extend their support with an investment that will renovate football club facilities for the benefit of all.

"All clubs taking part in the competitions can apply and in partnership with The FA we will select the most worthy causes.”

For more information visit www.buildbase.co.uk/buildbase-renovation-application.

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1