Scott Minto was the guest of honour at Ide Hill Football Club at the start of September.
The Sky Sports Presenter and ex-premiership footballer was asked to reopen the clubhouse on Ide Hill’s recreation ground after storms ravaged their new building earlier on in the year.
Keith McGinn, Ide Hill FC’s Club Secretary welcomed everyone to the reopening and said: “We had some storm damage earlier in the year, which cost £50,000 to repair. Fortunately the club had insurance for this very reason.
“Thank you to Clare Dance [Ide Hill FC’s Junior Secretary] for her dedication and exceptional work with the insurance company and loss adjusters.
“Scott has kindly come to reopen the clubhouse today and he’s travelled a long way, all the way from Leeds, which is appreciated.”
Talking to the crowds of club members which included over 40 children, Minto said: “Football clubs like these are what it’s all about. Some of us have been very fortunate to play in the Premier League, but I can just about remember being this age. It’s not all about whether you end up being a professional footballer, it’s about enjoying being with each other, learning about what it’s like to be in a team and learning your own important role within that team.
“Well done to you guys, because that was obviously devasting what happened here, clearly everything is for a reason, and you have much better colour now with the flooring.
“In all seriousness, for communities and not just football communities, being part of a community is what it’s all about, not just on a football level but a social level too. So well done to Keith and Clare on a fantastic job all round.”