Portland United Football Club, the home of the Blues, is aiming to become a ‘hub for the community’ as the second stage of planned developments nears an end.

The club’s clubhouse has already seen one extension built at its home on Grove Road, and now new facilities, including lift access and new toilets, will see the venue increase its capacity providing a vital community space. 

New toilet facilities and a lift are being built at Portland United’s clubhouse (Image: Andy Jones) The project is costing close to £300k but the club did receive a ‘sizeable donation’ from the Football Foundation.

It hopes to unveil the new facilities in April.

Vic Holland, the club’s commercial director, said: “We’ll absolutely be a hub for the community – we have everything available.

“Since the Conservative Club closed, the amount of people we have for events has increased but access has been an issue.

“Basically it will increase our footfall.”

The bar will be moved to allow for more space in the clubhouse (Image: Andy Jones) The work will also see the bar move to one end of the room allowing for more space for people to sit in and enjoy a beer or food whilst watching football, or not.

Mr Holland added: “Football takes pride and place on a Saturday but the rest of the week it can be open – we want the community to use it.”

Groundsman and committee member Darren Whyton is a professional builder and has taken on the work himself. 

He said that adding additional toilets upstairs means they will be able to make the away changing room bigger and add a new physio room. There will also be a new entrance at the rear of the building.

Mr Whyton also has a vision for the club to be a vital part of community life on Portland.

Darren Whyton, committee member and groundsman at Portland United, is a builder and has undertaken the project (Image: Andy Jones)

He believes that by strengthening ties to the local community, especially the youth teams, it will benefit everyone – not just the club.

The final stage of upgrades and turning the club into such a community asset is replacing the current grass pitch with an artificial surface.

The club has planning permission for the pitch but is currently in conversation with the Football Foundation to help with funding, however, nothing has been agreed yet.

That will form part of the final phase of the upgrades which have already included new £26.5k floodlights installed around the pitch, again with help from the Football Foundation.

The current grass pitch cannot be used all the time as it is needed for the club’s first team as a priority, but a new artificial surface would mean the pitch could be used seven days a week.

Mr Whyton said: “I want to see the kids using the pitch. It would be for hire for anyone and the young teams could use it.

“When I look out and see the mascots using it on a matchday it is a joy to watch.”