A football club has outlined its plan for future stadium improvements after showing off more than two years of upgrades in a visit by an MP.

Witham MP Priti Patel visited the Aspen Waite Stadium, home of Heybridge Swifts FC, last week and was given a full tour by chairman Gary White and club committee member Tim Bruce. 

The club showed off its new improvements, including the new all-weather 3G playing surface at the stadium, plus new perimeter fencing,LED floodlights and a fully refurbished sports bar with an external seating area that can now host functions for up to 200 people. 

Before the tour, Ms Patel met with Gary, Tim and club secretary Daryl Parham for a discussion about their plans for the club’s future and the possibility of obtaining more funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund (PLSF).

The PLSF awards capital grants to clubs to support the improvement of stadium facilities for players, supporters and officials. 

The club’s next project is to install netting to make sure fewer footballs get kicked outside the stadium.

After that, a new stand is to be built, currently known as the Mick Gibson Stand after the late club president who was instrumental in getting the club to where it is today.

Ms Patel said: “I was very interested to see the facilities that are available here and what an asset the stadium has become to the local community. 

“Activities are not limited to football, with other sporting functions and concerts regularly held here.

“I wish Heybridge Swifts every success this season and in all their future endeavours.”

Mr White said: “We greatly appreciate Priti’s support, and it was a real pleasure to show her our stadium and all that we have achieved here. 

"We are a community-based football club that operates on a not-for-profit basis and we are very proud of what we have created over the years and of the positive effect the club has on the physical and mental well-being of so many local people, of all ages.”