A NEW FOOTBALL pavillion has been named in honour of a councillor’s long-standing campaign.

The former White Ash Football Pavilion, Oswaldtwistle, has been renamed Walmsley Pavilion in recognition of Coun Brian Walmsley’s long-standing support.

Coun Walmsley has been involved since the 1950s when the original was built, and continued more recently when he campaigned for a replacement when arsonists wrecked it in 2006.

Hyndburn Borough Council arranged the re-naming of the pavillion as a surprise for the councillor.

His role began in 1953 when he was among a group which arranged for the original to be built.

Neighbours in the area got together to raise money to take a wartime prefab from Spring Hill and transport it to the White Ash site.

They put the bits of prefab in vans and even carried pieces to the site where they reassembled it in 1953.

White Ash Football Club was then formed and they played there until the team was disbanded. The pavilion fell into disrepair and was burnt down in 2006 by arsonists.

After a long campaign by Coun Walmsley, the council built a modern pavilion which has four dressing rooms each with showers and a separate referee’s room.

Coun Walmsley said: “I’m flabbergasted.

"This is a real honour and I’m thrilled as this place is so close to my heart.”