Gosforth Floodlighting project

Aim: GSFA clubs are growing and now need more and better floodlit space to enable everyone to train safely at the club more regularly.

Who are we?

Gosforth Fields Sports Association (GFSA) is the umbrella operating charity that maintains and operates the Gosforth Field site. Our 3 founding clubs are AFC Dronfield, Dronfield Town FC and Dronfield RUFC.

In 2009 the whole site was developed into what it is now with artificial and grass sports pitches for football and rugby along with a fully licensed bar, café and changing rooms to support all of the daily participation that happens through the clubs. These high quality facilities have helped to not only sustain our three founding clubs but create the opportunity for the clubs to grow offering opportunities for the whole community to participate in sport and physical activity with memberships in excess of 800 local boys, girls and adults registered.

Why are we crowdfunding?

The quality of our facilities and brilliant work that the clubs do has meant that we need to further develop our facilities on site to create more training and playing opportunities as such, GFSA supported by Dronfield Rugby Club are planning to install new fixed floodlights on the training area and the 2nd team rugby pitch to replace the temporary diesel-powered floodlights on those areas. This is a significant investment for the Association to improve training facilities for everyone.  

How we’ll spend the money raised

A planning application has been approved for 6 lighting columns on the training area (aka the Paddock). 

What are the timescales?

We have received planning permission (October 2023) for the proposed scheme and are now fund raising to be able to deliver the scheme as soon as possible in the New Year (2024)

What is it costing?

The total cost of the project is over £50,000. We have £20,000 committed to the project so we are seeking to fundraise a minimum of £25,000 to be able to complete the project.

Community impact

The 3 Founding Clubs of the GFSA run over 60 Teams between them ranging from under 5’s to Over 35’s. With over 800 registered players, extensive coaching staff who are FA or RFU Accredited, CRB Checked & First Aid Trained.

Dronfield Rugby Club provide rugby opportunities for all age groups from under 7 through to veteran’s rugby. The mini and junior section has gone from strength to strength since its formation in 2008 and now has around 140 girls and boys training and playing each week throughout the season. The mini and junior section is run by over 40 volunteers, who coach and manage the teams, to ensure the sessions are fun and safe. 

The senior sides run 2 teams plus a colts and veterans side with over 100 members regularly training and playing the game.

The growth in the number of players has put strain on the grass training areas, and results in the small area currently lit with temporary diesel lights becoming unplayable during the depths of winter. The new floodlights will cover more of our grass areas and will ensure that all teams have a well-lit and safe place to train through the winter months. It will enable the club to replace the noisy diesel temporary lights which are expensive to run also environmentally costly.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

• Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
• Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
• Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
• Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!