Barnoldswick Town is celebrating after winning a national award which recognises the incredible progress the club has made.

Town received the coveted Voluntary Sports Ground Management Team of the Year accolade in the annual Institute of Groundsman-ship awards for 2010.

Club chairman Alverley Ashworth and groundsman Stephen Naylor received the award at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff last Thurs-day.

The judges were impressed by the dedicated work that has gone in over the past 30 years to turn what was formerly pasture land at Victory Park into a well-maintained facility with a first class playing surface.

The club was nominated for the award by the West Yorkshire Branch chairman of the IOG, David Robinson, who is groundsman at Skipton Castle and Earby Cricket Club.

Town chairman Ashworth said: “David has known us for a while, and felt that what we have achieved here over the years would impress the judges of the awards.

“The work that has been carried out in bringing what was a waterlogged farmer’s field up to the standard that it is now, a good playing surface suitable for North West Counties football, is remarkable. “I was the groundsman at the Rolls Royce factory in Barnoldswick for many years, before I was involved with the club.”

He recalled: “I remember when I first heard that they were going to build a football pitch on this site, I just laughed as it was just waste ground then. Just getting a football pitch established was an achievement in itself.

"But the award does not just take into account the playing pitch, it also encompasses the facilities in the whole ground from changing rooms, clubhouse, terracing and the fence around the ground. “The judges also recognise the people who do the everyday work in making sure the club functions whether that is the secretary, tea ladies, groundsman, in fact anyone who does some kind of task in keeping the club ticking over.”

Robinson’s initial nomination was verified by Ian Mather-Brewster, the IOG Regional advisor for the North of England, who paid a visit to the ground in October. Ashworth added: “Ian looked at every aspect of the running of the club, and asked lots of questions. “When I told him that apart from specialist work such as electrical work, all the facilities at the club have been built by volunteers, he was obviously impressed, especially when he learned that around eight people built the clubhouse in around 14 months from scratch, without paying anyone for labour as it was all voluntary.

“Ian spent over two hours looking at everything, clubhouse, stands, changing rooms, seating arrangements, and no stone on the ground was left unturned.

“It’s great for the club that we have been chosen for a national award such as this. I’m especially pleased for the people who have been here a long time, but equally, good work has been done by people who have only been here for a short while as well.

“It’s just nice that the whole club and everyone who is involved with the club has been recognised for the work they have put in over the years.”

Town’s joint manager Ben Hall, who has guided the first team to fifth place in their first Vodkat League Premier Division season, says that everyone on the playing staff is appreciative of the work that has been done in building up the club.

“We are all in it together at Barnoldswick – committee, management, players – and groundsman Stephen Naylor and his team do a fantastic job. “Last Thursday Bessie (John Beswick, one of the groundstaff) was down working on the ground from 8am until 4pm. The dedication these people have shown, and the work they have put in for the football club, is fantastic. “We appreciate the work they have put in and we are delighted for them that they have been recognised in this way.”