Since its formation in 1986 Wendron has won several awards including Cornwall Sports Partnership adult club of the year in 2006 and the current best FA Charter Standard Community Club in Cornwall. The club has achieved widespread recognition as a community friendly organisation that consistently seeks to develop and improve in the field of football, be it through player and coach development or new and improved facilities.
The new state of the art facility at Wendron incorporates four unisex changing rooms, four mini changing rooms, two changing rooms for officials, an upstairs viewing and coaching/education room, kitchen and garage.
This magnificent building will ensure the club can cater for peak time use of facilities by many teams. Additionally it will enable Wendron to facilitate the development of talented young people, help raise standards of performance, as well as strengthen links with the community and harness soccer as a force for good in society.
The success of this project is down to the dedication and perseverance of many at the club who, five years ago realised the club was at a crossroads. The overwhelming success of its youth and adult sections outstripped current facilities that were unable to provide a practical and acceptable means of changing, either for players or officials.
As a result the club decided to raise funds and submit an application to the Football Foundation in order to construct a purpose built new changing room facility that is appropriate to the needs of the club.
An application was submitted to the Foundation in September 2004, approved in February 2006 and building began in July of last year.
The total cost of the project was £762,768 and 85% of this was provided by the Foundation. The remaining amount came from The Football Association, Kerrier District Council, Wendron Parish Council, LI Winn & Sons, low carbon trust and the club itself.
Sir Trevor Brooking said: "This wonderful project is an outstanding example of the type of facilities the Football Foundation is creating throughout the country.
"By working closely with local groups, clubs and Cornwall County FA, the club is forming a long lasting partnership that will benefit not only players and supporters of Wendron FC but all members of the local community."
Club Development Officer Alan Watson said: "It’s taken years of planning and fundraising but we have finally been rewarded for all our efforts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who helped make it possible, particularly the tremendous support we had from Kerrier District Council sports development officers, Wendron Parish Council for their help in the planning application process and funding, Cornwall County FA for their guidance and LI Winn & Sons for matched funding.
"Thanks should also go to all those schools and businesses who have offered their support throughout the clubs existence and also the many volunteers who helped with fundraising events."
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "These new facilities will really open up access to sport for people in the Wendron area, particularly youngsters. It is thanks to the investment by the Premier League, The FA, Sport England and the Government that the Football Foundation exists to support projects like this excellent new facility."