Thurrock Harriers all set to get new clubhouse

THURROCK Harriers are set to get a new clubhouse after a £120,000 donation from the Veolia ES Cleanaway Mardyke Trust.

Vice Chairman of the athletics club, Gerry Heapy, and Councillor Charles Curtis, Chairman of the Veolia ES Cleanaway Mardyke Trust, signed an agreement on Tuesday in which the Trust will provide the Harriers with the money to build a new clubhouse at their stadium at Blackshots in Grays.

The grant is the largest the Trust has ever given a club.

The existing clubhouse at the track is in disrepair, propped up in places to prevent it from collapsing.

The Harriers have also received £20,000 from the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and £8,000 from the Thurrock Youth Forum.

Gerry Heapy said: “This is fantastic news for the club.

“The clubhouse is an essential part of the stadium, and the new building will enable us to do so much more, to train athletes and coaches and provide a venue for a range of important events in the run up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.

“We have some great young athletes here, and with our new track and recently refurbished changing rooms we will now have excellent facilities for everyone to use”

Councillor Curtis said: “The Thurrock Harriers are one of the best athletics clubs in the country, and it’s a real pleasure that the Trust has been able to help them.

“The Trust are always keen to help sports in the borough, particularly when they do so much – like the Harriers – to involve children and young people and help them to achieve their potential.

“This is great news for the borough.”

The Harriers hope to have the clubhouse open by Easter, in time for their next season.