Badshot Lea Football Club, the winner of Rudridge’s Community Project appeal, is about to see years of hopes and dreams come to fruition as work is set to begin on its new home ground.

The groundworks and civil engineering materials distributor launched the Community Project campaign last year, with the aim of giving a local charity, school, community group or project the benefit of its expertise, materials and labour completely free of charge.

Badshot Lea FC has been searching for 13 years for a suitable piece of land, which would give the club a permanent home ground.

The old Farnham Rugby Club clubhouse at the Westfield Lane site in Farnham will undergo extensive refurbishment and, when the work has been completed, Badshot Lea FC will benefit from a refurbished clubhouse, new floodlights, a well-drained and level site, improved parking areas, fencing, spectator seating and three irrigated pitches.

Planning permission has now been granted and, with the site lease agreed, work is expected to begin soon. The new development will also ensure the long-term future of the Montessori Nursery School, which also uses the clubhouse.

Paul Duke, branch manager of the Rudridge branch in Farnham, said: “Everyone at Rudridge is delighted to be involved with helping this local football club with a project that has been 13 years in the making. Our expertise in groundwork and the provision of civil engineering materials makes us ideally placed to help in the realisation of Badshot Lea FC’s dream.

“It’s one that will also positively impact the Farnham community for many years to come. On behalf of everyone at Rudridge, I would like to thank those who took the time to enter our Community Project appeal – we had an impressive response, with entries from many very worthy local causes.”