TWO East Lancs clubs were cracking open the champagne today as the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, supporters of the Football Foundation, announced cash awards of almost £110,000.

North West Counties League club Bacup Borough got a grant of £82,083 for pitch drainage programme and to replace the club's existing 20-year-old floodlights with a modern system at their West View ground.

Ramsbottom FC will get £27,804 for pitch drainage and to renovate the playing surface at the Riverside Ground.

Brent Waters, manager of Bacup Borough, said the grant came after a lot of hard work by everyone involved in the club as well as the supporters and sponsors.

He said: "It's tremendous and a good amount and brilliant for grass roots football. We didn't get 100 per cent grant from the fund. It is about 85 per cent with the club having to put up the other 15 per cent so we'd also like to say a big thank-you to the people who support and sponsor us because without them we wouldn't have been able to afford the improvements.

"We are going to have an upgraded electricty supply, new drains throughout and a maintenance programme set up to improve the playing facilities, as well as new floodlights. I have been at the club for the past four years and we have come such a long way through team work.

"This shows the ambition of the club and that we are not standing still but going forward. I have always said that at this level of sport the simple fact is that when you are trying to attract players the first thing they want to know is how much money they are going to get.

"If you haven't got the large amounts of money like us then the next thing you need to have is nice facilities. Now with this funding we can go to another level and do a lot more."

Over £35m has already been invested by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund since its launch in July 2000, funding ground improvements throughout the professional and amateur game, creating a safe and modern environment for fans and players to enjoy the game.

FSIF spokesman Simon Taylor said: "The non league game in East Lancs is certainly leading the way in this latest round of funding. The future of the game is looking increasingly bright in the area and the FSIF are delighted to be able to make a real difference at the very heart of the football. It's a long way from Japan but the players can look forward to top facilities next season."