LEDBURY Town have secured a £1,000 Football Association grant to help fund improvements to their New Street ground’s facilities.

Their future plans include the possibility of an all-weather artificial turf area being developed at the top end of the main pitch.

Andrew King, FA facilities and development officer, presented the cheque to Ledbury chairman Colin Brandt and outgoing first-team manager Paul Mann, who was the driving force behind securing the funding.

Ledbury are one of only eight clubs nationwide to receive the financial boost and the club will hold an open day on Sunday featuring various attractions, including a bouncy castle and outdoor skittles alley.

The day, which starts at noon, will finish with a barbecue and pig roast to coincide with the screening of the World Cup final.

Ledbury are asking for volunteers who could help out with decorating, repair and improvement jobs around the club on the day from 8.30am.

They are needed to paint changing rooms and exterior walls, repair and replace damaged advertising boards around the pitch and floorboards in the stands, trim hedges and clear grass cuttings.

An appeal is also being launched for spare tools and equipment people could donate for use on the day, such as paintbrushes, tins of paint, timber and secateurs.

Anyone interested can contact the club on 01531-631463 or Mann on 07972-535499.

Meanwhile, the club’s presentation evening saw Brandt thank outgoing first and reserve team managers Mann and Karl Lancett.

The first team will now be led by joint bosses Pete Boyle and Zac Blood in West Midlands League Division One.

Their 2013-14 accolades went to Dan Herbert, who scooped both manager’s and players’ player-of-the-season, Nicholas Blakeway for most improved, Elliot Watts for young player and Martin Loveridge for clubman.

The Herefordshire League reserves saw Rodney Hathaway voted manager’s player, Zeki Koral coaches’ player, Carl Wildig players’ player and Curt Williams most improved.

Ledbury first XI kicked off their pre-season with a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Association League outfit Upton Town.

They then host Perrywood tomorrow (3pm), Evesham United next Tuesday (7.45pm), Fairfield Villa on Saturday, July 19 (3pm), Quedgeley Wanderers on Friday, July 25 (7.45pm), Worcester City on Wednesday, July 30 (7.30pm), Cheltenham Town on Saturday, August 2 (3pm), and Kington on Wednesday, August 6 (7.45pm).

Additional training sessions have been arranged for Wednesday, July 23, and Wednesday, July 30, from 7pm until 8.30pm. For more details, call Blood on 07713-597293.

The win over Upton saw the hosts weather an early storm before breaking the deadlock late in the first-half through youngster Darren Palmer, who raced onto joint boss Boyle’s fine through-ball.

Blood then took to the field in the second period and went close before Bryan Sewell just fired over.

Sewell, though, then outsmarted the keeper to net the second goal on 68 minutes.

Ledbury’s management duo were impressed with their new side’s first match together and will take many positives forward.