The Prince of Wales has opened a new road leading to a Cornish football club, the building of which he supported and which replaces a pothole-ridden lane.
Football fan William, who is also patron of the FA, stepped in to kick off the consortium to transform access to Mousehole AFC, after hearing that staff, visiting teams and supporters were facing traffic congestion, damaged vehicles and logistical headaches.
On Thursday William visited Mousehole AFC, close to Landâs End in the tiny village of Paul, and was told that work on the road was carried out in just four weeks.
William joked with the contractors that it now means they will be asked to be quicker on other jobs.
He added: âThanks guys I really appreciate what you have done for the club and the community.
âItâs in a grey area, itâs hard for the club to get funding, but by working together it got done.â
They told him the road has also brought new people from Penzance to the games.
William replied: âYou were stuck for years, but not any more.â
William took action after reading last year that the most westerly club in the English leagues was rising up the ranks despite the state of its road.
The football club is not on Duchy of Cornwall land but it is in a remote Cornish community that the prince, who is also Duke of Cornwall, wanted to personally support.
The prince and his Duchy of Cornwall estate worked with CRH, a building materials group, to see if they could develop a solution.
About 250 people, including local children, welcomed William.
He met club members, supporters and players and was mobbed by the under-10 players, who all wanted to shake his hand and have their photo taken with him.
Board member Norma Richardson has been a supporter and seller at the club for more than 30 years. Her sons played for the club as youngsters and she ended up coaching one of the teams.
She said: âThis is a small club, what brought me here was our boys playing football. It may be a small club but it feels like a big family.â
Simon Taylor from the club said the road has brought people together and now about 200 people watch the Seagulls in action.
He said: âI canât put into words what this new road means for the club. It makes such a massive difference.
âThere used to be congestion in the village leading up to the grounds. It wasnât great even for the home supporters coming to the home games.
âBut as a result the attendance level has gone up by 50 people.â
He added: âItâs amazing. A lot of our new supporters are coming on board. They have become volunteers on match days and other days. It has brought a lot of people together, the club. Itâs just fantastic.â
Mr Taylor said that William had seemed âkeen, enthused and so passionateâ, adding: âYou can tell he loves his football.
âWhat he did on the pitch with the players and the youngsters is incredible.
âThe way he talked to the contractors who helped make the new road happen was brilliant. It was like he knew all about it â which is remarkable.
âI am a very happy man today.â
Mousehole AFC are in Southern League Division One South and play at Trungle Parc.
Mousehole (pronounced Mowzel), is home to about 500 people, but its team is playing against towns with populations 50 times that.
