THE final games of the season and club presentation always give footballers reason to celebrate their success over the past 12 months of action.

But, at Bolton Lads and Girls Club, youngsters and officials joined at Hacken Lane for a historic occasion as they look forward to an exciting development in the club's illustrious history.

Work starts at the end of June on the £1.7m project to improve the facilities at the club and it is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

It meant the final fixtures were even more of a landmark occasion on the site.

Rachel Burke, Sports Development Manager at BLGC said: “It’s been a fantastic season for all of our BLGC teams and I’d like to thank all the players, parents, officials and volunteers who support the club and enable young people to participate in sports each week.

"The day will go down in the clubs history, and although it’s sad the final whistle went we are all extremely excited for the development which will support us in extending our offer and promise of an excellent sports menu of opportunities for young people, in the very best facilities, fit for professional sport.”

Five years ago, Lads and Girls Club vice-chairman Mike Peers made it his mission to transform the 60-year-old Ron Tucker Sports hut at Hacken Lane to become a modern, state of the art building, offering ground breaking facilities for young people of Bolton.

The Bolton News reported in April about how local dignatries performed the ceremonial cutting of the first sod of grass to kick start the development.

An artist’s impression of the new pavilion shows a modern looking single-storey red brick building with a corrugated metal roof.

It will include four changing rooms with segregated shower and toilet facilities catering for 16 people each, a disabled changing room and two smaller changing rooms with showers for two match officials.

Another addition is a full-size 3G pitch installed with flood lights along with redevelopment of the existing natural turf pitches.

The new facility will also incorporate a new parking facility and overflow car-park to remove current safety issues of kerb-side parking on Hacken Bridge Road and to accommodate the increase in number of users.

Manchester City ace Paul Moulden is one of the big name players who have donned the club's colours and gone on to play the sport at the highest levels.

But one of the new generation of footballing stars was on hand to hand out trophies at the event – Bury FC junior George Miller.

The youngster was part of the Bury side that won the Lancashire Senior Cup which beat Wigan this season.

Burke added: “It was only two years ago George was up on the stage collecting his end of season award.

"It’s lovely to welcome him back and for him to be part of our celebrations as he will have many fond memories of Hacken Lane.”

The club are still finalising other venues for teams to play at the beginning of the football season until their new home is re-opened.

n To find out more about Bolton Lads and Girls Club visit http://www.boltonladsandgirlsclub.co.uk