Amateur footballers breathed a sigh of relief today as the Southend Borough Combination League's Eastwoodbury Lane ground was granted a brand new 21-year lease of life.

The league has been based at its present home since 1981, but had genuine fears for its future as council chiefs dithered over a new deal for the site.

However, the Combination, which caters for thousands of Saturday and Sunday soccer enthusiasts every season, has finally been handed a stay of execution, with just 18 months left to run on their present agreement.

"This is great news and secures the future of the Southend Borough Combination at its rightful Eastwoodbury Lane home," said the league's chairman Len Forge.

"The council has shown its commitment to football in the borough by granting this new lease, which will be warmly welcomed by amateur footballers who use our facilities."

However, Forge revealed that the council's green-light over the lease would herald the start of a whole new battle for the league, which has been running since 1920.

Eastwoodbury Lane needs new changing room facilities to bring it up to date with the new millennium, but Forge admitted finding funding, which could be as much as a staggering £100,000, wouldn't be easy.

"I've re-submitted plans for a new changing block to the council, which were first accepted five-years ago, and I'm currently awaiting the go-ahead," added the well known chairman.

"But that's when the real problems will begin because we will need to find the money to pay for such a facility, which we just don't have in the club kitty."

Forge said that the new lease would allow the Combination to apply for National Lottery funding, but he wasn't holding out much hope as he has had two similar bids knocked back in the past.

"Our chances of gaining lottery funding are pretty grim because these people don't like to give their money away," he said.

"We were denied in the past because our lease was running out, but we meet the criteria for a bid now because we are definitely here for another 21-years.

"But other things can get in the way and even if they did decide to support us we would still need to find about £65,000, because the lottery will only give us a third of the final sum we require."

Forge also appealed to local people to help fund the proposed changing block.

"If there is anybody out there who can help us by donating any money to our fund we would love to hear from them," he added.

"A few of the lads who have played over here during the past few years have gone on to do very well for themselves and I've written to one or two of them, but I haven't heard anything yet."

If you can help the Combination's changing rooms cash bid call Len on 01702 511301.

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