GORNAL Athletic are looking toward a brighter future after a little help from Dudley Council.

The club was plunged into turmoil last month when thieves took £2,500 of groundskeeping equipment from their Garden Walk home - prompting fears the Peacocks might struggle to fulfil their remaining fixtures.

But now their problems have been solved after Dudley North Area Committee agreed on Monday to grant £3,000 from the capital allocations budget, which will go towards a new sit-down lawnmower and strimmer.

Club secretary Kevin Williams revealed how he received a call from Gornal ward councillor Anne Millward, the leader of the council, who first became aware of the club’s plight after reading about it in the News.

He said: “It’s brilliant news for us and has come at just the right time.

“We were contacted by councillor Millward, who had seen the story in the paper and she advised us to apply for the funding.

“The pitch has not been cut in over a month, all we’ve been able to do is roll it and its looking bobbly to say the least - I would say at our level it would be deemed unplayable.

“We’ve four home games coming up in a row and this new funding will help us see out the season.”

The Garden Walk pitch is also used by the club’s youth team and Midlands League Division Two outfit Wren’s Nest FC.

Councillors agreed to grant the cash on the condition the new equipment is insured, with locks and padlocks also provided.

Williams revealed the club would also be installing a new alarm and tracker system to help prevent future break-ins.

Gornal councillor David Stanley told the committee: “Councillor Millward actually rang the club after reading about the theft in the Dudley News.

“This was a case of where we went to them offering help. The club offers a lot of youth sport opportunities and is a worthwhile cause.

“The money will be really well spent to encourage these type of activities.”

Gornal are currently third in the West Midlands Premier.