For a club that has served its town for decades, the hardest thing for Kirkham Juniors FC to find has been somewhere to call home.
The club runs more than 20 teams and supports more than 300 young players. But despite its size, does not have a place to call its own.
That is why the club’s £70,000 Project Home campaign matters so much. This is not a story about shiny new facilities or expansion. It is about securing pitches, creating stability and making sure grassroots football in Kirkham has a sustainable future.
Speaking on Centre Circle’s The Grassroots Hotline podcast, Facilities Officer Wes Lawrenson put it plainly: “We want to bring football back to Kirkham. We’re from here - that’s where we need to be.”
Kirkham Juniors was founded in 1972 and is one of the area’s longest-serving grassroots clubs. Wes himself came through the club as a player before returning as a volunteer. Like so many in grassroots football, he is doing far more than one job. He works full time, helps run the club and spends much of his spare time dealing with pitches, messages, and now, fundraising.
“I just want the best. That’s all I want.”
The opportunity now in front of the club is a six-acre site in Kirkham, secured through an agreement with the local council. On paper, it sounds like the answer. In reality, the land needs major restoration work before it can host regular football.
To make the site playable in time for the 2026/27 season, the club needs to raise £70,000. Without that, the risk is clear. The club may not be able to support all of its teams in the near future. So far, they've raised approximately £30,000.
“In my opinion, the next level of work needs to be stability for the club. Long term, it just gives the kids the best opportunity for the best pitches that we can afford to give them.”
That stability has been hard-earned. Kirkham Juniors has been built by volunteers over decades, growing year by year without a permanent base. But the limits of that approach are starting to show.
“There’s a club with 300 kids. We should be able to hold matches on a regular basis at home.”
A permanent ground would change the shape of the club. It would mean fewer cancellations, less time spent coordinating logistics and a consistent place for players, coaches and families to come together.
It would also give young players something more than just a place to play.
“If you’ve got that stability, somewhere to go, it gives that release. You forget what’s going on at home. You forget what’s going on in the outside world.”
The club has launched a public campaign to raise the funds needed to bring the site up to standard. Support is already building locally, but reaching the target will depend on continued backing.
Support Kirkham Juniors FC’s Project Home campaign:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-kirkham-junior-fc-bring-football-home
There is a tendency to think of grassroots football as something fixed. Clubs, teams and pitches all in place.
But in reality, much of it is held together by volunteers working around limitations.
Kirkham Juniors are trying to remove one of those limitations. Not to grow beyond their means, but to secure what they already have.
“I don’t want a lot. I just want the kids to enjoy it.”
For them, that starts with a place to call home.
