AMATEUR footballers in East Lancashire are kicking off the new year with news of a £150,000 grant from the Football Foundation.

The grant will allow the council to fund much needed pitch drainage and construct modern changing facilities for men and women and children at the site which was once earmarked for closure.

The news comes after it was revealed that less than 50 per cent of games scheduled to be played at Prairie took place last year -- and that was down to the poor drainage at the site.

Council chiefs decided against closure after an assessment was made of Burnley's football facilities.

The Football Foundation are a group funded by the FA Premier League, The Football Association, Sport England and the Government. It is the country's largest sports charity with a £53 million budget directed into football programmes across the nation. Their aim is to revitalise the grass roots of the game, develop football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in local communities.

Burnley Borough Council's executive member for leisure, Barry Gutteridge said: "I am over the moon. It is fabulous news.

"Once the Prairie is up and running and all works are completed, it will be a great facility for future generations to play football on.

"This is good news for Burnley as a whole and not just for football players."