The Big Build

THE BIG BUILD

From 2010 to 2013, we worked extremely hard to raise funds to enable the build of our very own netball courts in Hinckley.

With Grant support from Sport England, Sported and Leicestershire & Rutland Sport, and also significant fundraising by our members, their families, friends and our supporters, we were delighted to announce in 2013 that we had achieved our funding target.

Hinckley and Bosworth Council

The local council were with us in this venture from the start. Graeme Chilvers gave us a great deal of his time and helped guide us through the funding maze.

Sport England

This was a lottery backed concern. We received money from their Inspired Facilities venture which aims to give clubs the ability to improve their facilities in order to encourage more people to give sport a go.

Sported

This is a UK charity, which aims to leave a lasting legacy from London 2012 by transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people through sport.

Leicestershire Legacy Fund

This fund aims to create a lasting legacy from London 2012 by committing resources to a grants scheme for local club and facility development projects.

Hinckley Carnival Committee

The Committee generously agreed to give us a cash award towards the project.

Club Members

Our amazing club members raised a considerable amount of money to fund the project themselves. The fundraising ideas were varied and included bag packing, ladies nights, wolf runs, clothing drives and much more. We owe a big thanks to all the members who helped us along the way as well as all the support we had from many of their family and friends.

6 August 2013

In support of our aspirations to develop our own home ground, we were granted formal acceptance of our planning application. Our new home address became Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 3DR.

We instructed our designated development partner, Fosse Contractors, to commence work on our new courts.

Work began around mid-August with expected completion mid-October.

Update: 8th August 2013

Preparation for our new ground included clearing trees that formed the border of the site and carrying out some weed killing. Fosse Contractors then revisited the site to mark out the exact area.

Update: 9th August 2013

The site has been officially marked out by the contractors and work will start on site on Monday 19th August (weather permitting). The Site Manager, Andy, is looking forward to getting on with the work to build the courts.

A view from the side:

The netball posts will be right in front of us in this image. The floodlights in the distance are those belonging to the Hinckley Football Club. — The netball posts will be right in front of us in this image.
The floodlights in the distance are those belonging to the Hinckley Football Club.

A view from the bottom corner:

The bottom corner of the courts will be where the wooden peg is in the foreground. The folliage in the middle will be burnt. All of the tree stumps will be pulled out as well as the old floodlights and fencing.

A view from the other bottom corner:

The changing rooms are in the background of this photo. The electric cables have to go from the courts up to the main circuit board in the changing rooms so there is plenty of digging yet to happen. — The changing rooms are in the background of this photo.
The electric cables have to go from the courts up to the main circuit board in the changing rooms so there is plenty of digging yet to happen.

Update: 16th August 2013

These were refurbished and Hinckley Ladies will have access to both a home and an away changing room on match days.

Update: 20th August 2013

The giant mound of earth is all the soil removed to level the ground in preparation. It is about 9 foot high! — The giant mound of earth is all the soil removed to level the ground in preparation. It was about 9 foot high!

The ground is now level and ready to receive 400 tonnes of gravel over the next couple of days.

Update: 21st August 2013

Update: 2nd September 2013

Week 2

The work continued in the bank holiday week. The second layer of gravel is on and the conduits are all in for the floodlights.

Week 3, Day 1

The edging strips are going in round the courts ready to level the site and then add the tarmac. The floodlights can then go in round the edge, which might be later this week. — The edging strips are going in round the courts ready to level the site and then add the tarmac. The floodlights can then go in round the edge.

Update 4th September 2013

Week 3, Day 3

Update 5th September 2013

Week 3, Day 4

Update 14th September 2013

Week 4

The first layer of tarmac is down and the slots for the netball posts are in.

Update 21st September 2013

Week 5

Our builders are working on a Saturday! — Our builders caught working on a Saturday!

The final layer of tarmac is down and the fencing is going up today. The lights will go on this week, which will mean that all of the main things are done!

The line painting is dependant on the weather, as is the drying time for them of 2-4 weeks.

We have to have the courts approved by the league but we are optimistic that the first league games will be played on here on the 19th October.

Update 5th October 2013

ALL BUILT!!

A New Beginning!

On Saturday 5th October at 5:30pm, members of Hinckley Ladies Netball Club were invited to come see our new ground. The opening of our new home was marked by a traditional glass of fizz and a special cupcake, provided by the super talented Mrs Laura Benz.

The Grand Opening!

On Saturday 26th October 2013, Hinckley Ladies Netball Club extended an invitation to current and past players, friends, family, netball officials and many more to the grand opening of their new ground. This was a massive milestone in the club’s history and were delighted to see lots of familiar faces.

A special mention and thank you has to go to former captain and player for the England Netball team, Olivia Murphy, who joined us to commemorate the opening of our new facilities.

The event commenced with an opening speech from our chair person at the time, Julia Waite, who shared the vision of the project, the funding that we have received to make this a reality, appreciation for the club members support and thoughts for the future. Olivia also provided some words before officially opening our courts with the traditional ribbon cutting.