New changing rooms for football club

A Blackburn amateur football club’s new changing rooms have moved a step closer.

Mill Hill FC plans to complete the works, part of an overall ground improvement scheme, in time for the start of the 2026/27 season in the Autumn.

The £150,000 project to upgrade its Griffin Ground in Waterfall Street is 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 its own ground does not currently meet the 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 for the upgrades.

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.

It has now submitted a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council for a single-storey, purpose-built container to provide additional players’ changing rooms and a referee’s changing room.

A supporting statement says: “Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (BWDBC) Building Consultancy Team has been commissioned by BWDBC Growth Team to carry out works to provide a single-storey, purpose-built container at Griffin Park Football Ground.

“The proposed container will provide additional player changing and referee changing space to meet the league requirements.

“The footprint of the new container will be approximately 16 square metres.

!The cabin will sit back-to-back with the existing clubhouse, leaving circa one metre between the two for access and maintenance.

“The appearance of the proposal is based on a shipping container concept.

“It will be flat-sided and be finished in green.

“All windows will be formed in uPVC (white finish), and all windows/glazing will be double-glazed units to match the existing surrounding buildings.

“The windows will be covered with anti-vandal grills.

“All new external doors will be formed in steel.

“The existing landscaping will remain unchanged.

“Ambulant WC and shower facilities will be provided.”

With Mill Hill having two teams in the West Lancashire League and the chance of a third, and more players looking to join, the improvements are much needed.

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