Much-needed improvements have been made to facilities at Ely Outdoor Sports Association (EOSA) thanks to three substantial financial grants and fundraising efforts from member clubs. 

EOSA, a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, is home to Ely City Hockey Club, Ely Tigers Rugby Club and Ely Tennis Club, and over the last few years, has made a number of improvements to its Clubhouse and sporting facilities.

A £39,100 grant from East Cambridgeshire District Council's Community Sports Facility Fund and a £3,500 grant from Greene King allowed EOSA to finish the long overdue and much-needed refurbishment of the mens and ladies toilets in the Clubhouse recently.

Ely Standard: The old toilets in the clubhouse were long-overdue an upgrade.The old toilets in the clubhouse were long-overdue an upgrade. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

Ely Standard: The toilets have recently finished being refurbished in the clubhouse.The toilets have recently finished being refurbished in the clubhouse. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

Fundraising by Ely City Hockey Club and a £35,000 grant from Amey Community Fund enabled the replacement of the floodlights and failing electrical controls on their Astro pitch, as spare parts were no longer available for the 27-year-old original lighting system.

Ely Standard: New floodlights now operate above the astro pitch.New floodlights now operate above the astro pitch. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

A £17,000 grant from the Mick George Community Fund and fundraising by Ely Tennis Club meant EOSA could replace the floodlights on their tennis court facilities after the original lighting equipment was deemed unsafe for users.

In both cases, the new floodlights incorporate energy-saving LEDs, subsequently improving visibility while reducing energy consumption and EOSA's carbon footprint.

Ely Standard: The floodlights allow members who use the tennis courts and astro pitch with improved conditions for playing sports.The floodlights allow members who use the tennis courts and astro pitch with improved conditions for playing sports. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

A spokesperson for EOSA said: "We are extremely grateful to the Amey Community Fund, the Mick George Community Fund and the East Cambridgeshire District Council's Community Sports Facility Fund for the very generous grants and making these projects possible.

"It is also thanks to the hard work and dedication of a number of volunteers from EOSA and our member clubs that we have been able to make these improvements happen.

Ely Standard: the toilets in the clubhouse were very old.the toilets in the clubhouse were very old. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

Ely Standard: The new toilets are almost unrecognisable.The new toilets are almost unrecognisable. (Image: Ely Outdoor Sports Association)

"As the facilities have improved over the past few years, both inside the Clubhouse and the sporting facilities themselves, not only have our sports clubs seen an increase in the number of participants, an increasing number of members of the local community have hired the facilities for events, parties, groups and courses as well as for playing sport.

"We hope to increase these numbers further."