EXPANSION for a Newbridge based football club has been made possible through grant funding from Sport Wales.

Treowen Stars AFC were awarded a total of £1,500 through two separate Community Chest Grants last year, after being supported through the application process by Sport Caerphilly.

The funding has allowed the club to expand and also address the Welsh Football Trust’s focus areas of mini football and women and girl’s football by creating new under-6 and under-7 teams and two new girls teams.

New and existing coaches have also had the opportunity to develop their coaching skills with a Level 1 Coaching qualification, first aid courses and safeguarding and protecting children courses.

Club secretary Debra Reader said: “We have found the Community Chest Grant invaluable.

“With so many coaches there would be no way we could afford to train them all to an acceptable level of coaching without the funding we have received.”

Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services, added: “This is a fantastic example of what grant funding can do for grassroots sports.

“Clubs like Treowen Stars AFC are essential to increasing participation in sport in our county borough and help us deliver on our commitment to provide first class opportunities to children, helping them live active and healthy lives.”

The Community Chest Grant is funded by Sport Wales and can be applied for through Sport Caerphilly. Applications are welcome from Sport Clubs who wish to tackle inequality in sport and provide opportunities for more people to get more active, more often. To find out more about applying visit your.caerphilly.gov.uk/sportcaerphilly/community-sport/funding.

Treowen Stars AFC are currently looking for new female players for their under-8, under-10 and under-16 teams.

Training is on a Monday evening from 6pm to 7pm at Newbridge Leisure Centre.

For more information contact Debra Reader on 07976072675.