Volunteers from the new community football club Ashby United have given Hood Park's football ground a new lease of life.

The club was formed less than three months ago - but they are making rapid progress and want to use the central Ashby venue for some of their teams when the new season begins next month.

Fresh paintwork has seen the two dugouts and changing room areas decked out in club colours, while work has also been carried out on the barriers surrounding the pitch with a view to encouraging spectators.

The result is a new look for the ground which the club hope will help to raise their profile in the town.

Ashby United are taking it one step at a time and last week was all about the work being carried out at Hood Park.

The club's Community Lead Kenny Horn told Ashby Nub News: "We've invested time and effort to return this central, community venue to somewhere close to its former self. We've cleared all the pathways, painted and repaired the barrier and dugouts with the help of a local building contractor.

"The local town council wanted to remove all the fixtures, but we submitted a strong case to retain the features to improve both the playing and spectating experience."

"With the help of volunteers and local trades people, the work we have done over the past few days has made a real difference.

"Everyone Active, the management company in charge of the leisure centre have also been very supportive to help regenerate this valuable community space on behalf of the whole town.

"Ashby Town Council has also kindly issued Ashby United licenses in other parts of the town such as Prior Park Road, Westfields and Western Parks. Without the local council support, our growth over the past few months would not have been possible."

Ashby United are planning to run mainly junior teams at the moment, for ages 7 to 16.

Kenny said: "We launched on June 2nd and in three months we've proven that by reaching out to the community, the community will respond.

"The level of interest since launch has been overwhelming. Even in the course of the last few days, people walking passed have stopped to watch games and expressed interest in what we're doing. There is a genuine, positive interest in the town."

Ashby United Media Lead, Callum Prince added: "The reaction we've been getting on social media has been phenomenal. The level of support has really taken off."

The season starts on September 5th with junior teams, and the adult teams kick-off on the 6th.

Callum added: "The junior and senior teams are registered to play in a number of leagues across the region including Burton & District, Derby and Charnwood.

"We started with five junior teams, but since launch in June, the club has doubled in size."

Kenny added: "We respect that Hood Park is a public space, we don't own it.

"Ashby United has a license for matches and training but we must respect that members of the public are also using the space. Our community values run through everything we do as a club. For me, it's the right way to go.

"Where we can, we will look to form alliances with other sports clubs in the town. We have a healthy dialogue with other Hood Park users Ethan United and Ashby Ivanhoe to see how we can work together to accommodate one another. There are representatives in each of the sports clubs that see the value in closer collaboration and alliance."

Ashby United believe the coaching staff is the lifeblood of the venture.

Kenny said: "In terms of valued assets, without the coaches we don't have a club, the coaches are central to everything we do. They're qualified, they're engaging and experienced.

"They are far and away our most important asset. We are nothing without our coaches."

Coaching lead Gez Eivors said: "We're putting our energies into something good to make it happen."

Kenny added: "The community is effectively our membership. Like most sports clubs, we have a committee, but the unsung heroes are the dozens of people who play a priceless part in running the club.

"As a club, we will work towards a position where the committee will be answerable to the membership and community. In the spirit of a community club, the community/membership will have a say in how and who runs the club. This is a really important message from our point of view.

"By giving people a stake in the club, community engagement will increase."

In order to introduce the team and to share plans for the future, Ashby United are holding a meet and greet event for parents and players at Ashby Hastings Cricket Club on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st.

"This will provide people an opportunity to understand what is happening behind the scenes and what plans are in place to develop the club further. This will be a regular feature of Ashby United Community Football Club."