BURNHAM United FC will be hoping for a turnaround in the club’s fortunes after plans for a new stateof- the-art clubhouse were given the go-ahead this week.

The Seasiders are currently struggling on the pitch with a young and inexperienced squad, however the club installed a new committee last year and chairman Matt Counsell is hoping that the news will be the catalyst leading to a successful future for the club.

Speaking to the Weekly News, he said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest. It is great news and exciting times for the club.

“We have a new committee and I’m fairly new as chairman but we’re all working together to take the club in the right direction.”

The new clubhouse, which will be used by the senior team and the juniors, will feature changing rooms and showers for both home and away teams, a bar and a skittle alley.

It is also hoped that solar panels will be installed on the roof.

Matt continued: “It’s going to be a joint effort from both Burnham United and the Burnham United juniors FC to see this project through and hopefully it will mean that we can take both clubs forward and enjoy a successful future.”

The club’s committee hope to be able to start work on the development in January and have the facilities ready for the start of the 16/17 season.

However, with the project expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds there is still work to be done.

Oliver Taylor, who has been overseeing the project, said: “We’re pleased the plans have been approved and we can now move onto the next step of getting the funding for the project.

“Everyone’s worked so hard just to get to this stage but there’s a lot more work to do.

“The new clubhouse will make such a difference to the club and also the surrounding area.

“We’re hoping that it will help the club generate funds all year round and we’ll be looking to make it available to other groups in Burnham through the week.

“We’re in a bit of a transitional period on the pitch but we’re moving in the right direction. “Our aim is to be the best club in the area with the best facilities and the best players.”