RESIDENTS are being invited to help back a community sports hub and have the chance to win a grand prize at the same time.

There is still time to enter Chester FC Community Trust’s Grand Summer Raffle and be in with the chance of winning £1,000 cash.

The raffle is a fundraiser for the King George V Sports Hub project and as well as the £1,000 top prize, there are a host of fantastic prizes up for grabs including an Apple iPad, Chester FC matchday hospitality, tickets for Chester Races and lots more.

Tickets for the Grand Summer Raffle cost £1 each or £5 for a book of five tickets. Every penny raised will go towards the sports hub fundraising campaign.

The draw will take place on Thursday, August 1, during the City Fans United season ticket collection night in the Blues Bar at Chester FC, which begins at 7.30pm. Every penny raised will go towards the sports hub fundraising campaign.

Tickets are on sale at Chester FC on matchdays and between 10am and 4pm on weekdays. People can also request tickets to be posted out on 01244 371376 or email community@chesterfc.com.

It comes after the trust confirmed the pre-season fixture between Chester FC and Wigan Athletic raised a total of £3,700 towards the sports hub project.

The game attracted a crowd of 1,277 and the proceeds from the match will now be added to the fundraising campaign.

Jim Green, chief executive of Chester FC Community Trust, said: “We are delighted with the final figure and wish to place on record our thanks to Chester FC, Wigan Athletic and everyone who attended the game.

“The attendance was pleasing and the amount raised keeps the campaign moving forwards as we continue to progress the project.”

The Community Trust is working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and key stakeholders including Cheshire FA to develop the scheme.

The sports hub includes a new floodlit 3G pitch and clubhouse, improved grass pitches and refurbishment of the existing pavilion, providing much-needed sports facilities and flexible community spaces for meetings, training and social activities, education suite, changing rooms and offices.

It will be managed and operated by the Community Trust, which is a registered charity.

It is expected to cost in the region of £1.6 million and the council is investing in the site as part of a wider £4 million investment in football facilities across the borough.

Funding from external partners and section 106 agreements together with the £200,000 businessman Stuart Murphy has pledged to the project means the Community Trust is aiming to raise £300,000.

Mr Green added: “The pre-season game is part of a wider fundraising strategy to help us reach that target and we are committed to making this scheme happen.

“This is something football and sport in Chester needs and it's something the entire football club – the first-team, academy, women's section and Community Trust – needs.

“The council has demonstrated its commitment and the scheme is progressing well. Project consultants have been instructed and a number of site surveys and reports have been carried out to support the planning and funding process.

“There are several elements to the £300,000 target including commercial opportunities and the potential for additional grants, which is something we are working on, however we have to do our bit too as supporters because this will massively benefit our club for years to come.

"We understand supporters have questions about the benefits of the sports hub for the football club and the first-team so we will be holding an information evening in September to explain this in more detail and give people the opportunity to ask questions.

“How quickly the sports hub is brought forward is dependent on funding and we are working hard to keep the total ticking over.

"It has to be a collective effort and making a small contribution on a regular basis, whether it's buying raffle tickets, donating £10 online or putting some coins in a collection bucket, can make a big difference if you have a couple of hundred people doing it each month.

“It is a huge project and we make no apologies for being ambitious because I don't think this opportunity will come round again for our club. We have spent a lot of time looking at similar projects and talking to people involved to ensure we get it right.

"The plans are scalable and can be delivered in phases if needed but we are absolutely determined to make it happen.”