Coventry City legend Steve Ogrizovic was on hand to unveil Warwickshire based Rugby Borough FC’s new 50-seater stand and turnstile at Kilsby Lane last week. This has been made possible by investment from the Premier League, which has been delivered by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

The investment has allowed Rugby Borough FC, who play in the Leicestershire Senior League Premier division at Step 7, to reach FA ground grading regulations. The new stand creates additional space for spectators within the confines of the playing area and helps to shield fans from the weather elements.

The grant has also helped provide a turnstile and spectator hardstanding along one side of the third generation artificial grass pitch and will complement the existing facilities which include 17 grass pitches, one full-size 3G pitch and two smaller 3G pitches.

The site will be used by various community groups including all of Rugby Borough FC’s 70 teams, Warwickshire Schools FA, Girls and Boys School festivals and the club’s main festivals throughout the year. Leisure Leagues also provides 6-a-side community football for 23 teams, twice a week.

The project was made possible by a £20,000 grant from the Premier League, which is delivered through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund – the sister organisation of the Football Foundation. The rest of the grant was funded by the Rugby Town Sports Trust, a charity set up at the club to provide improved facilities at Kilsby Lane for football and for the community of Rugby.

Steve Ogrizovic, who won the FA Cup with Coventry City in 1987, said: “I am delighted to have opened this new stand at Rugby Borough FC. The facilities at Kilsby Lane are fantastic and this addition makes it more special. Well done to all who were involved in this project which will keep spectators dry but also allow the club to progress up the non-league pyramid.”

Liam Coulter, a Trustee at Rugby Borough FC, said: “We are delighted to have helped fund these new facilities at Kilsby Lane. It is part of the Trustees objectives to keep delivering projects like this at the site within our 5-year plan. We have delivered this project along with support from the County FA and the FSIF and I would like to thank Tom and Olly for their advice, input and help in delivering such a great project. We are all delighted with it.”

Peter McCormick OBE, Chairman of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, said: “I am delighted that Rugby Borough FC’s stadium upgrades will have such a positive impact on their fans’ experiences. I’d like to congratulate them on securing the funding from the Premier League, and their hard work in bringing the project to fruition.

“The Football Stadia Improvement Fund works hard to channel the Premier League’s investment into projects like this one, which help to improve the infrastructure of lower-league stadia across the country – benefitting clubs and their fans alike.”