THE future is looking bright for Redditch United Football Club after getting a major cash injection of more than £500,000.

The club has been awarded a £561,000 grant from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, the perfect start to a major £900,000 project that will see the club's Valley Stadium undergo a game-changing transformation this summer.

Ambitious plans include the installation of a 3rd generation (3G) artificial grass pitch, revamped facilities at the stadium and growing the community section to nearly 60 juniors, disabled and women’s teams.

Redditch United, celebrating its 125th anniversary season, has also managed to secure £88,166 from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, a partner organisation to the Football Foundation that is solely funded by the Premier League.

A further £225,000 has also come from Redditch United chairman Chris Swan.

Mr Swan said it was an exciting time as the club looked towards a bright new future – offering education, employment and solid community links.

“We are creating a number of full and part-time jobs and our facilities will be some of the best in the region," he said.

"And as we start out on our next 125 years we have a plan in place to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the football and the facilities at the Valley Stadium for years to come.”

He added: “We are grateful to the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund and to Redditch Borough Council for helping us realise our exciting plans to improve grassroots sport in the area.

"We will be adding to our already extensive community section, forging new strategic partnerships with Birmingham City Ladies and West Bromwich Albion and creating an exciting new football academy offering students a pathway to university or the chance to follow in the footsteps of the six players who have left us to move into full-time football over the last 18 months."

The Advertiser reported earlier this year that the Reds want to rip up the notorious sloping playing surface and replace it with an artificial 3G pitch which would enable them to play in all weathers.

The club was granted planning permission by Redditch Borough Council to proceed with the work in January.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This latest grant for Redditch United will benefit not just Redditch but a whole host of clubs and schools in the surrounding areas.

“Credit should go to all of those who have worked hard to get the project this far, in partnership with the Birmingham County FA and Foundation staff. Facilities like these could not get developed without the generous support from our Funding Partners – the Premier League, The FA, the Government and Sport England.”

Work at the ground is due to begin in early May and is scheduled to be completed in time for the new season and the opening of the new Redditch United Football Academy.