Cullompton Rangers AFC have installed a new £17,989 pitch perimeter barrier at their Eden Vale Park (Speeds Meadow) home.

The new barrier was installed thanks to a £12,592 grant from the Premier League through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), the largest funders of non-league football in the country.

The funding has enabled the club, who play at Step 6 in the Premier Division of the South West Peninsular League, to install the barrier. This means the club now meet the correct ground grading requirements to allow them to continue playing at their current level.

Brian Horner, Chairman of Cullompton Rangers, said: “Funding to allow completion of our new spectator barrier is the second grant we have received from the Premier League through the FSIF: the first being about five years ago when we received substantial financial help towards the construction of new player changing facilities at Eden Vale Park.

“There is no doubt in my mind that without the level of financial support offered by the FSIF clubs like Cullompton would find it almost impossible to make the sort of improvements we are making here and I would encourage other clubs like ours to take up the opportunities offered by the FSIF when considering improvements to their grounds.

“This is a brand new barrier system and Cullompton Rangers AFC feel very privileged to be the first club to have this installed.”

Peter McCormick OBE, Chairman of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, said: “It is a fundamental principle that clubs should be able to progress competitively and not be hindered because of unsatisfactory facilities, so naturally I am pleased to see that this £12,592 grant has gone towards the new spectator barrier at Cullompton Rangers AFC.

“The work of the FSIF is only possible because of the generous support of the Premier League and this investment is a further example of funding which will help to improve supporters’ experience of watching the game.”