Cash boost to upgrade Blackburn football ground

A Blackburn amateur football club can now improve its ground after a £125,000 grant from the council.

Mill Hill FC plans to complete the works in time for the start of the 2026/27 season in the Autumn.

The £150,000 project to upgrade its Waterfall Street ground are needed to allow the club’s senior teams to play there after securing promotion to the West Lancashire League.

It currently has to play its senior matches at Darwen FC because their own ground does not currently meet its new league’s criteria.

Blackburn with Darwen Council provided £125,000 from its Local Regeneration Fund provided by the government and the club raised £25,000 itself.

The £150,000 will pay for new changing rooms, improved pitch barriers and upgraded dugouts – all meeting the requirements of the league.

Mill Hill FC reached out to the council, which owns the land, to appeal for support in upgrading the facilities, which it has leased for decades.

Now, with two teams in the West Lancashire League, the chance of a third, and more players looking to join, the improvements are much needed.

Mill Hill FC chairman Bill Maynard, said: “It’s hard to put into words just what this funding means to the club and to our community.

“For more than 30 years we have proudly been based right in the heart of Mill Hill, and this investment means we can continue to play from our home at the community hub, which really does mean a lot to us all.

“It also gives our dedicated players, managers and coaches the chance to progress to the highest levels they can achieve, supporting their ambitions and helping to progress their careers.

“Being promoted to the West Lancashire League has been years in the making and this is just the start.

“We are incredibly grateful to the council, our landlord, for helping make this happen – it’s going to make a massive difference to the club and to our players.”

Mill Hill Football Club has men’s, women’s, junior and diversity teams playing at all levels.

Blackburn with Darwen Council growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahood said: “We are incredibly proud to have secured this government funding to help support the ambitions of Mill Hill FC and fund the upgrades needed at their community hub, land that the council owns.

“The club supports players, managers and coaches from right across the borough and has a long history.

“This funding means they can support their teams to play at the highest levels possible, and we’re delighted to be part of that.”