THE teams they are a changing in Blackbird Leys.

A sports pavilion revamp will bring new changing rooms and a tuck shop for the football teams of Oxford’s largest estate.

The new-build will also secure the future of the teams as income generated from food sales will help them become self-sufficient.

The former Cuddesdon Way sports pavilion was condemned in 2005 after asbestos was found. It also had a leaking roof, no hot running water, and was deemed unfit for purpose.

Turfed out, the teams – which have about 200 children playing for them – had to change in the nearby Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

They also lost their main source of income used to pay for the pitches and referees – the snack shop.

But now Oxford City Council has found the £350,000 needed to bring the pavilion back up to scratch through developers’ contributions, and eight years on building work is likely to finally start in September.

The project is part of a £2.5m citywide plan to restore 12 pavilions in Oxford.

Oxford Blackbirds chairman Kevin Foley said: “This will be a base for us. It is massive news and we are delighted.

“Representatives from other teams will come up to us and ask ‘where is the manager’s office?’, ‘where are we meant to go?’ “Now we’ll have somewhere for everyone and it makes it that bit more professional.

“We also used to have a tuck shop which sold tea, coffee and bacon sandwiches, and it helped us pay for the use of the pitches, and for referees.

“We hope that by having this new shop we can become self-sufficient again, as we have been begging for hand-outs and relying on the generosity of parents – and it is usually the same parents who always help out.

“(Councillor) Val Smith has also been wonderful, sending funding our way, but soon we will be able to finally stand on our own two feet again.”

In 2011 opponents of the £9.2m swimming pool development at the park’s leisure centre submitted a town green application.

The club handed a 700-name petition in to Oxford City Council to try to scupper the town green application due to the impact it would have on the playing fields. The knock-on delay and attempt to save the pitches for football meant another two years went by without a resolution.

Blackbird Leys city and county councillor Val Smith said yesterday: “I was heart-broken when the teams had to move out. It was horrible to have to ask them to move from their old changing rooms.

“To know that they are going to get their own changing room space and tuck shop again is wonderful news and a source of pride that we have been able to take care of our local teams.”

Oxford City Council is planning to upgrade the facilities at parks and recreation grounds including Bury Knowle park in Headington, Cowley Marsh park and at Blackbird Leys by 2016.