INADEQUATE changing facilities are hampering the development of Halwill Football Club, which is on a mission to raise the cash needed to replace them.

The current building, which has just three showers arranged in a wooden frame structure, has stood for more than 25 years and has holes in the floor, leaks in the roof and ivy growing through to the inside of the building.

The home players are often embarrassed when opposing teams arrive and comment on the 'cow shed' that they have to get changed in.

Women officials have also complained to the league that they should not referee the sides' games, as the club cannot offer separate changing facilities for them.

First team manager and committee member Andrew Winser said one of the biggest disadvantages of the inadequate changing facilities was that Halwill could not offer youth football.

'All my friends who live in the village take their kids to Hatherleigh, Lifton and Holsworthy to play football on a Sunday,' he said. 'We have a perfectly good pitch here but we cannot have kids changing in the shed.'

The club has been working hard for the last few years to raise the money needed to build new changing rooms in the basement section of the adjacent parish hall. These facilities would benefit the whole community and would allow Halwill Primary School teams and their opponents to change and shower at the pitch.

Andrew said the club had around £5,000 but would need £30,000 —£40,000 to do the whole job: 'It would be great if we could get someone in to do it all but if we cannot get that much money there are a lot of skills in the club, so we could probably do a lot of the work ourselves,' he said.

Planning permission is already in existence to convert the basement of the village hall and Andrew added that the new changing facilities would offer two rooms, each with four showers, a separate referee's shower and a kitchen so teas and coffees could be made on site and sold, raising money for the club.

This Saturday, the club is holding a car wash at Halwill Parish Hall car park from 10am onwards to raise funds. There will be a barbecue and refreshments served all day, with a five-a-side football tournament also being held in the afternoon. To enter a team call Geoff Moores on 07816 683841.

If anyone can help the club in its fundraising mission please contact Andrew Winser on 07815 855253.