Football is coming home to Corfe Castle. A generous £175,639 grant from the Football Foundation means villagers can finally realise their dream of building a sports pavilion at their West Street ground.

Over the past five years villagers have been hard at work fund-raising - collecting a further £125,000.

Jim Rosewarm, secretary to the trustees of Corfe Castle Sports Trust, said: "All sorts of organisations have contributed. We are all absolutely delighted - this is the culmination of a lot of hard work.

"This is only the beginning for us - we are hoping as a phase two to lay out a multi-games area for tennis, five-a-side football, netball and other sports."

The cash boost will be used to install a new drainage system for the ground's pitch, allowing more football all year round, whatever the weather.

Peter Lee, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "The foundation has already provided funding for 17 projects in Dorset worth almost £2 million and the Corfe Castle project will secure the long-term future of the grass roots game in and around Purbeck."

Planning permission has already been agreed on the sports pavilion which will provide changing rooms, referee facilities, a committee room and storage. Organisers hope to start work soon and have the building ready early next season.

The new pavilion is expected to double participation rates in the village and surrounding area with particular emphasis placed on developing more opportunities for women and girls.

Corfe Castle FC will develop a series of taster sessions for young players at local schools and a number of coaching schemes are expected to become regular features at the ground.

The Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game and is funded by the Premier League, the Football Association, Sport England and the government.

First published: May 20