ILMINSTER NEWS: Official opening for Archie Gooch Pavilion

THE new Archie Gooch Pavilion in Ilminster has been given a civic seal of approval following an official opening ceremony.

The new headquarters of Ilminster Town Football Club in Britten’s Field were declared open during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday (July 15, 2016).

The Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, plus the chairman of South Somerset District Council, Cllr Mike Best, were at the opening along with representatives of other key funding partners in the £600,000 project.

But the job of cutting the ribbon was given to Heather Virgin, of the Ilminster-based Gooch Charitable Trust, who has been a major supporter of the project.

Heather said she was delighted to see the Archie Gooch Pavilion up and running and added that it had been a long and hard struggle for the organisers.

PHOTO - TOP: Ilminster Town FC president Clive Moore looks at his brick on the "sponsor a brick" wall at the Archie Gooch Pavilion.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Heather Virgin, right, of the Gooch Charitable Trust, with Ilminster Town FC president Clive Moore and Ilminster Mayor, Cllr Val Keitch.

“But it just goes to show that if you put your mind to do something, you can actually achieve it,” she said. “We’re delighted that the Gooch Charitable Trust has been able to play a role in making this project become a reality.”

The Archie Gooch Pavilion will be run by a newly-created organisation called the Ilminster Sports Club with Laurie McKinnon, Emma Jane Taylor, Darren Paul and Andy ‘Eric’ Fish as its directors.

Mr McKinnon said: “As directors we will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the building that will include booking for events and hire of the building.

“We will also be responsible for all legal matters, health and safety, insurance and utility costs. With our team we will be promoting the building in the community and looking to secure its long term future.

“But today’s opening is a chance to say thank you to all those who believed in the project and helped on this journey.”

The Premier League and the Football Association Facilities Fund provided a grant of £245,000, while the Premier League through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund contributed another £50,000.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Ilminster Town FC's Darren Paul and family at the "sponsor a brick" wall.

Sport England contributed £55,000, while the Gooch Charity Trust backed the project by providing £60,000.

Mr McKinnon added: “A big thank you must go to South Somerset District Council’s health and wellbeing team, Lynda Pincombe and Jake Hannis in particular.

“Our thanks go to the Ilminster Town Council who also contributed to the success of the project with a grant of £5,000 and to the council staff for their help throughout.”

“Despite the fact that there is still work to be done, I would like to thank the entire build team from the architect, project manager, building contractors, site manager and his excellent workforce for their unstinting efforts to keep the build on track and going the extra mile at times,” added Mr McKinnon.

“It is worth noting that without the football club’s passion for this project it would never have happened and I would like to highlight that the whole committees of the senior and youth sections of the club have all given unconditional support to the project over many years. Every one of them has given up valuable time to make this project happen.

“The lead up to opening the building has been hectic but I am pleased to say that the community part of this project is proving very popular. We already have five long term bookings, a number of parties and one wedding reception planned.

“Ilminster Sports Club will be launching its membership scheme shortly and we hope people will sign up for membership. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the pavilion on a regular basis.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: Job well done! Ilminster Town FC secretary Andy 'Eric' Fish and chairman Darren Manley at the official opening on Friday.

The official opening evening on Friday saw a number of people get the chance to see the impressive “sponsor a brick” wall within the pavilion and it will become a real focal point of the building.

Ilminster Town Football Club president Clive Moore said it was over ten years ago when the club “had a dream” of having new facilities.

“We are now standing within the realisation of that dream,” he said. “These are not just facilities for the football club, but the Archie Gooch Pavilion is to be used by the whole town.”

Mr Moore said that he expected the facilities would “endear themselves to Ilminster” over the next 12 months – even with those people who “may have doubted” the project.

For football club veterans – chairman Darren Manley and secretary Eric Fish – the official opening of the new building has really been that realisation of a dream.

More photos from the official opening can be found on these links:

Photo Gallery 1: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/07/18/archie-gooch-pavilion-opening-part-1-july-15-2016/ .

Photo Gallery 2: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/07/18/archie-gooch-pavilion-opening-part-2-july-15-2016/ .

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