Weymouth Football Club will open their new disability facility for supporters this Saturday (21st September) before their league encounter with Worthing. The facility will allow supporters with additional needs to watch the action on the pitch from a warm, comfortable and easy-access area that provides shelter and refreshments for those with access.
To mark the occasion the club has announced that sports personality, Daley Thompson, will attend the grand opening and be trusted with the role of proclaiming the facility open.
Daley Thompson is described by many as the greatest all-round athlete this country has ever produced.
Thompson’s sporting record is one of success, with two decathlon Olympic gold medals to his name and four world record times. He went unbeaten in competition for an outstanding nine years.
Winning could be considered a personality trait, with an additional three Commonwealth gold medals and gold at both the World and European Championships. He became the first athlete in the athletics world to hold Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles in a single event simultaneously.
Thompson is a very well-known sporting personality and a natural showman. In 1982, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and has since been awarded both the MBE and CBE recognitions. His footballing links have seen him work with Wimbledon, Luton Town, and Reading.
He visits The Bob Lucas on Saturday, as a guest of honour for the match sponsors, Sperrin Law where he will open the club’s new disabled supporters’ facilities.
The Facility was made possible by Gareth Jones, Josh Clark, Josh Barton and Matthew Knibbs, who secured much of the material funding for the facilities five years ago with their winning presentation to Buildbase at Wembley Stadium.
Unfortunately, the original design given to the club didn’t meet Building Regulations and this left the club unable to open the facilities, financial hardship left the club with no option but to continue the use of the old facility until this summer allowed the renovation to reach practical completion.
With the help of SBL Ltd the facility is now ready to be opened on 21 September and the club is delighted to have such a prominent sporting figure coming to the Bob Lucas to cut the ribbon.
The club plan further upgrades to the facility but getting it open for the fans to enjoy is the priority.
The facilities out-trump that of the previous, with an HD TV, complimentary beverages, heating, and bi-fold windows for viewing when weather is poor.
Weymouth Manager, Mark Moseley and other members of the staff hope to attend the opening in-between their pre-match preparations.
The club would like to thank those mentioned above who have made this possible.
For those interested in attending, the opening ceremony will take place at 2 pm before the game and Thompson will then join match sponsors Sperrin Law to enjoy the Terras award-winning hospitality during the game.
Finally, Chairman Paul Maitland added ‘This facility has been long overdue and I apologise to the fans who have had to wait far too long for it to be open. Now that we are opening it I would like to thank those that have played pivotal roles in getting it to this point. Gareth Jones kindly took the project on this summer and along with SBL Ltd has managed to deliver. The Board will continue to look at ways to improve the facility and other areas of the ground to ensure we provide a warm welcome to all and a memorable and worthwhile experience.’
