FOR MORE than 40 years Barton Pavilion has witnessed the joy and despair of Oxford amateur football.

But it will take just two days to demolish the now dilapidated changing rooms.

The bulldozers moved in yesterday at the Barton Village Road recreation ground, paving the way for work to start on a new £350,000 building.

And its doors will be open in time for the first day of the coming football season this autumn.

Oxford City Council is carrying out the project and Barton and Sandhills councillor Van Coulter said it was long overdue.

“The facilities in the old club house were very jaded,” he said.

“There had been occasions when I was in there when water was percolating through the roof.

“For a long time we had collapsed sewers, which meant the toilets didn’t work.”

Training sessions have been cancelled in the past when the floodlights failed.

The new pavilion will house changing rooms, bar and social area, kitchens and storage.

Although a permanent structure, its modular construction will allow it to be resited if the football pitches are repositioned as part of the 1,000-home Barton West development.

The new building – which will be home to teams including Headington Amateurs – meets the latest Sport England and Football Association standards.

Not only will park players enjoy first-class facilities, the new building could help boost income for The Phoenix, the umbrella organisation that will run the new pavilion, as it will be available for community functions.

Mr Coulter said: “The Phoenix is working in conjunction with Barton Community Centre who will redirect any bookings they cannot accommodate.”

As part of the planned Barton West housing development, the football pitches could be turned 90 degrees.

But Mr Coulter said the new building was designed so it could be resited on the recreation ground if needed.