GRASSROOTS sports projects in the North-East and North Yorkshire – including Darlington FC's long-awaited return to the town – will share funding of more than £1.1 million.

Two projects at Darlington Rugby Club's Blackwell Meadows ground, which will become home to Quakers when the club moves back to the town during next season, are among 17 in the region to be awarded National Lottery/Sport England funding.

Darlington FC have played their games in Bishop Auckland since a fans' takeover in 2012.

Plans to provide extra car parking at Blackwell Meadows have been awarded £70,000, and another £75,000 has been allocated to refurbish and extend the changing rooms.

Funding for the car park development has been awarded to Darlington Borough Council, while the rugby club has receive the grant for the changing rooms refurbishment.

In total, today's announcement will see 149 projects across England share grants of £16.5m.

The funding will help those schemes to either breathe new life into tired facilities, make them more efficient and sustainable, or improve existing and unused sites so that they offer better sporting experiences for people.

Other projects in the region to be included in the awards include:

  • £75,000 for a pitch-and-putt golf course at Houghton-le-Spring Golf Club;
  • £68,620 towards a new tea room, ladies' changing facilities and disabled toilets at Eppleton Cricket Club;
  • £75,000 for the replacement of dilapidated community sports facilities in Easington Colliery;
  • £74,280 for a gym, running track and football field for Crook Community Leisure Ltd;
  • £30,425 towards an improved playing surface at Philadelphia Cricket Club;
  • £64,775 to improve drainage to the playing surface at Leadgate Cricket Club;
  • £63,030 for work on the football pitch at the Etherley Cricket Club;
  • £65,500 to improve drainage on sports pitches at Rossett School, Harrogate;
  • £65,000 for new pitches at Scotton Football Club, near Harrogate.

With these windfalls, Sport England has now made investments totalling £5 billion since 1994.

Sport England's property director Charles Johnston said: "We’re delighted to have invested so much into community sport, and see on a daily basis the impact that it makes for local people.

“The latest round of facility funding continues to make a noticeable difference to community sports clubs across the country.

"By giving people top-class, sustainable facilities in which to play sport, and by improving and protecting our playing surfaces, we’re ensuring that more people can pay sport, more often.”