THE BURY will be the home of Buntingford football for at least the next 10 years after Sainsburys agreed to extend the lease on the sports ground. Buntingford Town Football Club and Buntingford Cougars Youth Football Club have been based at the London Roa

THE BURY will be the home of Buntingford football for at least the next 10 years after Sainsburys agreed to extend the lease on the sports ground.

Buntingford Town Football Club and Buntingford Cougars Youth Football Club have been based at the London Road site since 2004.

A spokesman for The Bury said: "In a short time The Bury has established itself as an integral part of the social and sporting fabric of the town. With the support of Sainsburys it is now able to continue to offer an excellent football facility."

The two clubs took on responsibility for maintaining and managing the sports field and club house three years ago.

Since then, as well as being the venue for football, The Bury has hosted a variety of social and fund raising events.

Richard Daly, chairman of Buntingford FC, said: "For the football clubs of Buntingford this is fantastic news.

"It is great to have the terms of the lease finally signed and confirmed for a further 10 years.

"The team responsible for the facility and for everyone who has contributed to working parties and volunteered their time for the facility should feel immensely proud."

The move to The Bury has coincided with a period of success for Buntingford, who picked up the Herts Senior County League Division one title and Intermediate Cup in 2005, and the Floodlit Cup in 2006.

Mr Daly hopes the extended lease will help the club progress.

"An extension of 10 years means we can now apply to the FA for grant funding to develop and improve the venue as a football facility.

"We are hoping to gain support for our ambition of moving onto the next step of the FA's national league system," he said.

Jason Rowley, chairman of Buntingford Cougars Youth FC, said: "The Bury has become the home of football at all levels within the town, and gives us a hugely recognisable asset to any visiting teams.

"However, the facility has become far more wide-reaching than that, as it has become a very popular place for families to visit, whether interested in sport or not, as children can play safely in the much improved play area."

Herts North East MP Oliver Heald said he was "absolutely delighted" that the clubs had been able to extend the lease.

" When I have visited the club in the past I have been impressed at the commitment of all involved and at what good work is being done with the young players," he said.