As the Premier League Stadium Fund marks its 25th anniversary, we explore how decades of investment have helped non-league clubs improve their grounds and facilities.

Six years ago, the staff, volunteers and fans of Brackley Town faced a devastating situation when a fire tore through their clubhouse during the off-season. Today, however, the club has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Brackley's recovery has been supported by sustained investment from the Premier League Stadium Fund, with half a million pounds provided since 2002, enabling a series of significant improvements to the club's ground and facilities, including £250,000 towards a new clubhouse. 

The funding has also helped the club to install a full pitch drainage and irrigation system and acquire maintenance equipment to keep the playing surface in the best condition. The floodlights have been upgraded to an energy-efficient LED system, helping them to become more financially and environmentally sustainable.

Brackley's ground, St James Park, is one of over 1,000 venues to benefit from the Premier League Stadium Fund, which has invested more than £220million in the last 25 years to improve facilities at all levels of the game. 

"With incredible support from the Premier League Stadium Fund, the Football Foundation, and the fundraising efforts of our fantastic supporters, we’ve created a beautiful new clubhouse that we’re all incredibly proud of."

Brackley Town CEO, Janene Butters

Brackley CEO, Janene Butters, added: "Brackley represents the highest level of football in the area. We’re deeply rooted in the community and pride ourselves on our outreach work to make the club an important part of the town. We’ve put Brackley on the map time and again, whether it was our promotion last year or lifting the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2018, and people remember those moments.”

The local community have been at the heart of the improvements, with £250,000 of the funding spent on developing a new clubhouse, which serves as an important income stream for the club, especially on non-matchdays. 

"When we lost the clubhouse to a fire in 2019, it was a devastating moment. However, from that tragedy came an opportunity to rebuild something even better. With incredible support from the Premier League Stadium Fund, the Football Foundation, and the fundraising efforts of our fantastic supporters, we’ve created a beautiful new clubhouse that we’re all incredibly proud of.” 

As Brackley continue to grow on and off the pitch, the support from the Premier League Stadium Fund ensures that St James Park remains a place where football thrives for the club, supporters and the wider community.