Forged in Fire – Chapter Eight: The Verdict… Funding Approved!

“Someone else was taking care of the grand strategy; we just got the part where £19,000 made everything possible.”

The Verdict… Funding Approved!

Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was someone else independently working on a bid to set up the broader RAF Esports Association. I had all the plans ready to implement a full association, everything was hot to trot for our local club, but I must admit I was happy that someone else was taking on the larger association responsibilities. This allowed me to focus purely on building our Station team. The work they were doing, coupled with the work my committee and I were doing, proved crucial.

In the end, we got the call. The result from the RAF Sports Lottery was in, and the answer was a resounding YES!

Now, I’m trying to recall the exact details of the wider award, so if anyone out there is fact-checking, I’m happy to be corrected on the specifics of the overall RAF funding. My focus was squarely on the RAF Odiham award, and I remember it clearly: the RAF Sports Lottery kindly awarded us a phenomenal £19,000 to build our very own arena. Honestly, I nearly fell off my chair.

A huge thank you to Claire Bunten for having that faith in the club. I believe the broader Esports Association was awarded around £230,000 to stand up similar arenas around the Air Force, but like I said, you’ll have to forgive me if I’m inaccurate with those larger details, because my mind was now purely on the RAF Odiham delivery.

£19,000! I had the shopping list firmly in my hand… The fun was truly about to begin!

Next time on Forged in Fire…

The funding was secured, the plan was ready—but the next challenge had just begun: turning a pile of desks, PCs, and consoles into a proper esports arena before the clock ran out.

In Chapter Nine: The Build Begins – A Race Against Time. Plans were set, orders placed, and the team assembled—but nothing could prepare us for the whirlwind of setup, updates, and deadlines ahead.