Football / KNowle West
New floodlights installed at football club seeking promotion
Under the beam of their new floodlights, Mendip Broadwalk scored a stunning 6-0 win against Ilminster Town.
The game at their home ground, Filwood Playing Fields, on Tuesday evening marked the first ever floodlit football match played in Knowle West.
The club, who play in the Somerset County League, are now a step closer to being promoted to the Western League, which requires clubs to have floodlights.
is needed now More than ever
“We are trying to bring a level of football to Knowle West that has not yet been achieved,” said Mendip Broadwalk’s general manager, Richard O’Connor.
“At present the highest level of football to have been played in Knowle West and its immediate surrounding area is county football,” he added.
Mendip Broadwalk have four adult and ten youth teams, and are looking at starting their first girls’ team next season.
The club, which was formed in 2015 following the merger of two teams, hope their new floodlights could eventually give them access to the FA Cup preliminary rounds and the FA Youth Club.
“There has been such a pool of talent that has come from Knowle West, but to progress to a higher level these players have had to seek this elsewhere,” added Richard.
The floodlights, installed by Wiseman Lighting, have been funded by building materials company Tarmac, the John James Bristol Foundation, Bernard Sunley Foundation, Landfill Communities Fund and Garfield Weston Foundation.
In April 2022, Bristol City Council approved funding for improvements to the playing fields, including a 50-seater stand and resurfacing of the spectators’ path.
But Richard says the club is yet to receive any funding from the council for the improvements.
He said: “At present the the council have not contributed to our project. They are well aware of our ambition and needs and we have been in contact with them for nearly a year now. Although they have said they are willing to contribute, they are still yet to do so.”
A Bristol City Council spokesperson told Bristol24/7 the funding will be released later in March.
The council has also allocated funding for a new multi-use games area in the Filwood area, which could be built on part of the playing fields.
Main photo: Mendip Broadwalk
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