And as well as enjoying the North Sea beaches, they were able to enjoy some of the best sports facilities in the region thanks to the support of Lincolnshire Football Association.

The FA has been instrumental in enabling nearly £350,000 to be ploughed into the Mablethorpe Athletic Sports Association project, cash that has helped replace a dilapidated 1950s building with a purpose-built complex incorporating changing rooms, treatment rooms, kitchen and social area.

Graham Lyner, Football Development Officer with the Lincolnshire FA, is among many to appreciate the new complex.

“I went to a meeting at the old building and we were all huddled together around a gas heater trying to keep warm,” he recalled.

“This is a beautiful new facility that has already benefited the area. The people of Mablethorpe are really proud of what has been done.”

The project is one of many supported by The FA, which provides one third of the funding to The Football Foundation, the country’s biggest sports charity. The FA then ensures projects engage as many people as possible in the local community via its football development programmes.

Football Foundation cash made up more than 85 per cent of the cost of creating the marvellous new facilities.

Youngsters will travel from across the UK for the junior football tournament, which starts next Tuesday, April 13, with international sides also making the trip to Lincolnshire according to Maddy Gledhill, secretary of the association.

“We had German teams last year and there will be sides from America taking part this time,” she explained.

“We have a big holiday camp just up the road from where we are so it is ideal for those taking part in the tournament.”

And Maddy, who spends most of her time fundraising for the project since her retirement six years ago, says life is so much easier when it comes to organising events.

“It is excellent having four changing rooms. It means we won’t have teams having to change in the lounge – we used to keep the girls outside while some of the men were getting changed!”

The new building has also provided a boost for football in the area.

“It means more and more people are playing football in Mablethorpe and more and more are coming down to watch,” Maddy explained. “We now have teams at all ages, from u9s through to senior football – both girls and boys – and that means we have a good mix in the clubhouse on match days.”