Major funding secured for Vikings home
7th September, 2024
Victoria Pleasure Ground, the home of NCEL Premier Division side Goole AFC, is set to get a major facelift after more than £2.2m was secured in funding.
Goole Town Council, together with the Goole Town Deal Board, have announced that its application for grant funding from the Football Foundation has been successful to help finance its ambitious plans to refurbish the stadium.
Via the Football Foundation, the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government will provide 31% of the total £7,266,385 million cost of the project.
The home of football in Goole for more than a hundred years, the Victoria Pleasure Ground (often referred to as the VPG) is home to the Goole AFC along with Goole Vikings Rugby Club, a semi-professional rugby league side competing in the Yorkshire Men’s League. Several other local sports clubs and groups also use the VPG.
The site is owned by East Riding of Yorkshire Council (having formerly belonged to Boothferry Borough Council) and is leased to Goole Town Council for a 30-year period.
Sadly, it’s no longer fit for purpose and in dire need of investment if it’s to remain open. Goole Town Council currently subsidises the VPG to the tune of £32,000 per year, just to keep the venue open and operating.
Fears for the long-term viability of the ground prompted the Goole Town Deal Board to prioritise the site’s redevelopment as part of its strategic proposals to reinvigorate the town centre by allocating it a share of the town’s £25 million in Town Deal funding.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government made some early funding allocations to towns involved in the Town Deal process, which had to be spent by a strict deadline.
Some of this money was used to install energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) floodlighting at the Victoria Pleasure Ground, helping to reduce the running costs of the venue and making it more environmentally-friendly. This new lighting will also be incorporated into the redevelopment plans.
Councillor Barbara Jeffreys, who represents Goole Town Council on the Goole Town Deal Board, said: "This is wonderful news for the Victoria Pleasure Ground, and for the town as a whole.
"The funding award from the Football Foundation has required an enormous amount of work and its success demonstrates the strength of our shared commitment and vision to secure the VPG’s long-term future and enable it to serve many more people and organisations.
"To know that our local sports clubs, together with the hundreds of children and young people who are part of the various grassroots teams in Goole, will soon have sporting facilities that we can all be proud of is just the best news.
"The late councillor Josie Head, together with councillor David Jeffreys, were huge ambassadors for the VPG and I feel proud we are close to making their wish to safeguard its future a reality.
"In fact, this grant funding allocation means that we are able to deliver a sports stadium that will be far superior to anything that we could have envisaged originally.
"It will be something the town can be proud of, both for people now and for generations to come."
Phil Jones, chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: "From the very beginning, we’d always set out to secure match funding from the Football Foundation for the VPG project but, until now, that was not a given.
"The board is delighted to learn that Goole Town Council’s grant application to the Football Foundation has been successful and everything is now finally in place for us to be able to proceed."
Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is yet another major investment in Goole!
"We’re absolutely delighted that the Football Foundation saw the enormous potential of refurbishing the VPG and understood the many benefits that it will bring to so many local people, and to the town centre as a whole."
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
"Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
"This grant award to Goole Town Council and Goole Town Deal Board towards to revamping the facilities at Victoria Pleasure Ground is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play."
A business case developed for the site estimates that the proposed improvements will increase the number of visits to the VPG by 376%, from 13,000 to 63,000 per year.
It also forecasts that the VPG will become financially viable within three years of the improvements being carried out, with no need for Goole Town Council to subsidise it beyond that.
Goole Town Deal developed the visionary business case for the Victoria Pleasure Ground, working in close conjunction with Goole Town Council and specialist consultants Steve Wells Associates, who bring their vast experience of developing top class sporting venues nationally to the project.
Planning permission for this project was secured in 2023 and work is due to start this year, with completion in 2025.
Goole Town Council, together with the Goole Town Deal Board, have announced that its application for grant funding from the Football Foundation has been successful to help finance its ambitious plans to refurbish the stadium.
Via the Football Foundation, the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government will provide 31% of the total £7,266,385 million cost of the project.
The home of football in Goole for more than a hundred years, the Victoria Pleasure Ground (often referred to as the VPG) is home to the Goole AFC along with Goole Vikings Rugby Club, a semi-professional rugby league side competing in the Yorkshire Men’s League. Several other local sports clubs and groups also use the VPG.
The site is owned by East Riding of Yorkshire Council (having formerly belonged to Boothferry Borough Council) and is leased to Goole Town Council for a 30-year period.
Sadly, it’s no longer fit for purpose and in dire need of investment if it’s to remain open. Goole Town Council currently subsidises the VPG to the tune of £32,000 per year, just to keep the venue open and operating.
Fears for the long-term viability of the ground prompted the Goole Town Deal Board to prioritise the site’s redevelopment as part of its strategic proposals to reinvigorate the town centre by allocating it a share of the town’s £25 million in Town Deal funding.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government made some early funding allocations to towns involved in the Town Deal process, which had to be spent by a strict deadline.
Some of this money was used to install energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) floodlighting at the Victoria Pleasure Ground, helping to reduce the running costs of the venue and making it more environmentally-friendly. This new lighting will also be incorporated into the redevelopment plans.
Councillor Barbara Jeffreys, who represents Goole Town Council on the Goole Town Deal Board, said: "This is wonderful news for the Victoria Pleasure Ground, and for the town as a whole.
"The funding award from the Football Foundation has required an enormous amount of work and its success demonstrates the strength of our shared commitment and vision to secure the VPG’s long-term future and enable it to serve many more people and organisations.
"To know that our local sports clubs, together with the hundreds of children and young people who are part of the various grassroots teams in Goole, will soon have sporting facilities that we can all be proud of is just the best news.
"The late councillor Josie Head, together with councillor David Jeffreys, were huge ambassadors for the VPG and I feel proud we are close to making their wish to safeguard its future a reality.
"In fact, this grant funding allocation means that we are able to deliver a sports stadium that will be far superior to anything that we could have envisaged originally.
"It will be something the town can be proud of, both for people now and for generations to come."
Phil Jones, chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: "From the very beginning, we’d always set out to secure match funding from the Football Foundation for the VPG project but, until now, that was not a given.
"The board is delighted to learn that Goole Town Council’s grant application to the Football Foundation has been successful and everything is now finally in place for us to be able to proceed."
Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is yet another major investment in Goole!
"We’re absolutely delighted that the Football Foundation saw the enormous potential of refurbishing the VPG and understood the many benefits that it will bring to so many local people, and to the town centre as a whole."
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
"Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
"This grant award to Goole Town Council and Goole Town Deal Board towards to revamping the facilities at Victoria Pleasure Ground is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play."
A business case developed for the site estimates that the proposed improvements will increase the number of visits to the VPG by 376%, from 13,000 to 63,000 per year.
It also forecasts that the VPG will become financially viable within three years of the improvements being carried out, with no need for Goole Town Council to subsidise it beyond that.
Goole Town Deal developed the visionary business case for the Victoria Pleasure Ground, working in close conjunction with Goole Town Council and specialist consultants Steve Wells Associates, who bring their vast experience of developing top class sporting venues nationally to the project.
Planning permission for this project was secured in 2023 and work is due to start this year, with completion in 2025.
(Story Source: Goole Town Deal)
Helliwell steps down as Vikings boss
23rd August, 2024
Following a disappointing start to the new campaign, Nathan Helliwell has tendered his resignation as Goole AFC's first team manager which the club has reluctantly accepted.
The Vikings have lost all three of their NCEL Premier Division games so far this season and, last weekend, they were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup with a home defeat to Melton Town.
Reon Potts and Elliott Pearson will take over as manager and assistant boss, respectively, with immediate effect whilst Jamie Smith, who has a wide knowledge of the NCEL, has re-joined the backroom team.
A club statement said: "We all thank Nathan for his hard work and commitment to the club over last season which, despite very difficult circumstances, managed to steer the club away from the relegation zone.
"As a club, we wish Nathan the very best of luck for the future."
Helliwell added in a farewell message posted on the club's website: "First of all, I would like to thank the chairman and the directors and volunteers for giving me the chance to manage the football club. It has been a huge honour and one that has made me feel very proud.
"It has been a roller-coaster to say the least but, from Christmas last season, saving the club from the inevitable relegation is a testament to the players who played for the badge.
"You, the supporters, have been key to the journey - midweek trips to Pickering, Barton and Rossington will stick long in my memory and your support, I'm sure, got us over the line in those fixtures.
"There have been many changes in players and staff over my time and I thank you all individually for your hard work and efforts.
"The club needs to move in a new direction and I'm sure you will back the new management team with the same backing that you showed to me.
"The club has a massive place in my heart now - like they say, once a Viking always a Viking!!
"I'm sure with the players you have there it won't be long until you climb the table, they are a very talented bunch.
"All the best and thank you for the chance."
The Vikings have lost all three of their NCEL Premier Division games so far this season and, last weekend, they were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup with a home defeat to Melton Town.
Reon Potts and Elliott Pearson will take over as manager and assistant boss, respectively, with immediate effect whilst Jamie Smith, who has a wide knowledge of the NCEL, has re-joined the backroom team.
A club statement said: "We all thank Nathan for his hard work and commitment to the club over last season which, despite very difficult circumstances, managed to steer the club away from the relegation zone.
"As a club, we wish Nathan the very best of luck for the future."
Helliwell added in a farewell message posted on the club's website: "First of all, I would like to thank the chairman and the directors and volunteers for giving me the chance to manage the football club. It has been a huge honour and one that has made me feel very proud.
"It has been a roller-coaster to say the least but, from Christmas last season, saving the club from the inevitable relegation is a testament to the players who played for the badge.
"You, the supporters, have been key to the journey - midweek trips to Pickering, Barton and Rossington will stick long in my memory and your support, I'm sure, got us over the line in those fixtures.
"There have been many changes in players and staff over my time and I thank you all individually for your hard work and efforts.
"The club needs to move in a new direction and I'm sure you will back the new management team with the same backing that you showed to me.
"The club has a massive place in my heart now - like they say, once a Viking always a Viking!!
"I'm sure with the players you have there it won't be long until you climb the table, they are a very talented bunch.
"All the best and thank you for the chance."
Tables