St John’s Field, the home ground for Dandy Town Football Club and Western Stars Cricket Club, will be back in use next year.

David Burt, the Premier, was on hand at the ground yesterday to arouse some excitement within the West Pembroke community as Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, announced that extra money has been found to allow work at the facility to be completed.

Government have allocated $535,000 and Gorham's, who have already spent $1 million to raise the turf and fix the drainage system, will chip in with a further $200,000 to assist the club’s infrastructure.

The facility was originally closed in 2019 after it was deemed not fit for use due to the presence of small rocks on the turf, which made it dangerous for sport to be played on the field.

Devarr Boyles, the Western Stars president, expressed his appreciation to the Bermuda Government and Gorham's for the continued assistance in ensuring that the field returns to use.

“We are grateful for the news today and look forward to the start of the work to get us back down here in 2025,’’ Boyles said.

“It is a journey and we are grateful for the support that we’ve had along the way. The Minister of Public Works has maintained that he wants what’s best for the club and the community, and we are very thankful to Minister Lieutenant-Colonel Burch.

“Gorham’'s have had the same objectives and it’s good that you have pledged continued support.

“The Premier gave us assurances back in 2019 at our first community meeting and said he’d do all he could to make sure that this project is completed for the West Pembroke community in Bermuda.

“We are thankful for the steadfast support of the Western Stars family, fans and supporters, we truly appreciate you.

“We may now look for the long route to get here, but we are now on course to start in 2025 and we might be starting with cricket.”

Burt stated that his government recognises the crucial role played by sporting clubs on the island’s communities.

“As a local member of parliament, I know that Western Stars and St John’s Field are the spaces for the Pembroke community,’’ Burt said.

“I’m happy to join the Minister of Public Works, and the wider Western Stars family as we announce that the government has allocated not only from his ministry’s budget, but also the Confiscated Asset Fund to ensure that the resurfacing of this important community field will be completed.

“We acknowledge that these repairs have taken longer than anticipated and I appreciate the diligent effort of the minister and his team to ensure that a solution was found.

“It is essential that community clubs are supported in the work that they do, so that they can continue to provide an avenue for positive activities for our young people.

“This field represents our commitment to investment and building a brighter future for our youth and strengthening communities.”

Colonel Burch insisted that assisting Western Stars get their field back was part of government’s commitment to accomplishing promises made during the 2020 election platform.

“What has become the first three years of this project is nearing completion,’’ he said.

“So far, Gorham's have spent over a million dollars to improve the drainage, raise the level of the field and replant the area.

“However, more work needs to be done before the field is played on. Both Gorham's and Western Stars executive teams have been working diligently to ensure that the playing area meets the regulatory standards for the playing of football and cricket.

“In March 2023 it was decided to secure the services of an expert in field renovation to opine on the state of work so far. With the assistance of the BFA, Fifa consultant Professor Eric Harrison visited Bermuda and carried out an inspection of the field and submitted his report in April 2023.

“His report recommended that the topsoil be removed and resifted to eliminate rocks in the soil as well as the removal of invasive species of grass.

“Bids for the refurbishment works were solicited by the Western Stars executive team from three companies – the two who possessed the large sifting equipment needed for the job were considered, they are D & J Construction and Island Construction, with Island Construction producing the lowest bid of $535,000.

“The government will support the club via a grant for this work. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Works will waive dumping fees and provide a technical officer to assist Western Stars with managing the project delivery.

“This is a sizeable investment in a government asset, but we believe that Western Stars’ new vision to build a sports blub that focuses on sport, health and wellness, and other funding models rather than bar proceeds to fund their activities is well worth the investment.”

Andrew Mackay, the chief executive of Gorham's, outlined what it has taken to get the project to where it is.

“We literally moved mountains of material to make this happen,’’ Mackay said.

“More than 1,500 container truckloads actually came to this site to raise the field, in some areas over four feet

“To make it more of a community project, it took nearly 15 years of recycling glass material, which we also brought here to help bring this field up to the level of that it is.

“Moving forward, we now focus on the infrastructure. We’re committing another $200,00 to the community of Western Stars, to help them to redo their infrastructure.”