CHEADLE AND GATLEY JUNIOR FC

The next generation of football players are set to benefit from a £3M programme aimed at improving clubhouse facilities, as Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC becomes the latest club to receive support from Howdens and England Football.

Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC was named as one of 450 lucky clubs to receive a state-of-the-art kitchen as part of the Howdens Game Changer Programme which was launched earlier this year with an aim to support grassroots football with improved clubhouse facilities, to bring local communities closer together.

With more than 50 football teams and 700 members, aged between 3 and 70 years-old, the club is proud to support a mixture of boys, girls, mens, walking football and CADS disability teams.

For the past five years, Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC has fought to prevent its pitches being turned into housing. It’s this inspiring journey that helped them to be selected for the Game Changer Programme. As part of the campaign to save the ground, the local council helped the club to receive a lease extension and granted them permission to turn an old empty condemned building onsite into a community hub for players and their families. Ahead of opening the facility, Howdens has stepped in to supply a new kitchen, the final piece in the puzzle.

In addition to bringing communities closer together, the pioneering programme will play a vital role in increasing income streams and improving the overall financial health of the Cheshire-based club, so that it can continue to thrive.

Richard Hubbard, Treasurer of Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC said:

“These past few years have been unsettling and we have spent many sleepless nights trying to keep the ground going for our members.

“Opening this new community hub without a proper kitchen would have dampened this great journey we have been on, and we are so grateful to Howdens for selecting us. The new kitchen, as part of our state-of-the-art facilities, means we will be able to raise funds for the club by selling hot food and drinks to sustain players and supporters. This will allow us to put more funding back into the teams for improvements to kit and equipment. Not only that, but the space offers a safe place for everyone to socialise before, during and after games and training sessions.”

Jo Cribbin-Lea, Depot Manager, Howdens Cheadle, added:

“An important part of what we do at Howdens is aiming to make a positive impact on local communities, which is why we are delighted to be able to support Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC.

“There is a lot of attention on grassroots football and what happens on the pitch, but we believe that the off-pitch facilities are just as important. Clubhouses are often the hub of the community, which is why we’re incredibly excited to see the new installation once it’s complete and how it will benefit the club.”

The installation work is due to be completed by the end of the year so the club can benefit from the brand-new kitchen this season.

The Howdens Game Changer programme was launched earlier this year by football legends Jill Scott, MBE, and Chris Kamara, MBE, who lent their support by driving home the importance of grassroots football and clubhouse facilities on their own careers.

With depots all over the country, Howdens carries one of the largest in-stock ranges in the UK across kitchens, flooring, joinery, and hardware, so that products are readily available, and projects of any size can be completed without delay.

Founded in 1995 with just 14 depots, Howdens has grown to be the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier* having delivered over six million fitted kitchens to the UK market. Now with over 800 depots nationwide, Howdens offers a vast product range from local stock, with experts found at every depot. Howdens designs kitchens to suit every home, but above all else Howdens believes in expert craftmanship. Selling only direct to the trade ensures that Howdens’ products are installed to the highest standard, with their kitchen cabinets receiving a 25-year guarantee as standard. A selection of Howdens rigid kitchen cabinets received a Which? Best Buy Award for the third year in a row in May 2023.

Howdens is the exclusive supplier of the UK’s best-selling integrated appliance brand, Lamona, offering a wide range of cooking, cooling, laundry and dishwashing appliances.

*Source: Mintel, September 2020, UK Kitchens and Kitchen Furniture: Inc Impact Of Covid-19.

To find out more about Howdens, visit:

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