Bungay Town Football Club's bid to refurbish terrace

An effort is underway to raise up to £10,000 at Bungay Football Club to completely refurbish its Barney Vass Stand.

It was called the Barney Vass Stand in 2004 after the club legend died in 2002.

Barney was connected with the club in training and management roles for well over 50 years after moving to the town in the 1950s (Image: Bungay Town FC)

The terrace was first erected on the Common as a racing stand in 1894 – one of two which stood on the common when race meetings were held twice a year.

But it was dismantled and moved to the Maltings in 1953 to become a football stand - where it remains today.  

In those days there were dressing rooms, a referee's room and a refreshment kiosk under the stand, as well as a communal bath which both teams plunged into after the game.

But the building suffered a fire in 1987, and the stand was badly damaged.

Its height had to be reduced by five tiers, to the level it is now, with the dressing rooms and bath being destroyed.

The stand after the 1987 fire (Image: Bungay Town FC)

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Alaina Ratcliffe, who is spearheading the fundraising effort, said it will cost between eight and ten thousand pounds to refurbish the whole stand.

The Barney Vass Stand today (Image: Bungay Town FC)

She said: “The stand has a great history and is hugely important and much loved by the club.

"It is our ambition to return it to its former glory.

“We would like to thank Jordan Fencing for becoming our first main stand sponsor of our Barney Vass Stand and welcome more sponsors to make this refurbishment a reality

“If you would like to support us either by becoming a stand sponsor or general sponsor we have lots of varied options available from £70.”

Mrs Ratcliffe is holding a raffle with various prizes available to win with many businesses locally selling raffle tickets.

For more information contact email: btfcsponsorship@outlook.com

A fundraising mission has beem launched to retun the stand which was built in 1894 to its former glory (Image: Bungay Town FC)

The height of the stand had to be reduced to save it after the 1987 fire decimated it (Image: Bungay Town FC)

The remains of the stand after the 1987 fire (Image: Bungay Town FC)