Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire has welcomed the announcement that a project in South Staffordshire will be one of 178 projects across the UK to receive extra funding from the Government to support grassroots football in their local communities.
Projects in every corner of the UK have been selected for Local Football Facility Plans, drawn up by the Football Foundation. They will receive funding to increase participation in sport, including for women and disabled players.
This extra funding includes £455,647 for South Staffordshire District Council to help fund the construction of a new floodlit 3G Football Turf Pitch at Wombourne Leisure Centre. The development is on a dual use site, with curriculum and enrichment use by Wombourne High School during the day and community usage in the evenings and at weekends. To compliment the new pitch, the district council will also be refurbishing two changing rooms.
The site is the base for three Partner Clubs and supports recreational activities including Walking Football, diversionary sessions in partnership with the Police, a Small-sided League and Wildcats sessions.
Sir Gavin said: “I warmly welcome the £455,647 investment from the Government, the FA, and the Premier League to support the construction of a new high-quality pitch in Wombourne. This funding will make such a difference to the high school, local clubs, and everyone else who wants an easier way to get involved in local sport.”
Nigel Huddleston, UK Sports Minister, said: “We are ramping up UK government funding to improve access to high quality sports facilities for the underprivileged and underrepresented across England.
“From artificial grass pitches in Sefton, Newcastle and Southampton, to great changing facilities in Blackpool and Solihull, and grass pitch improvements in Chelmsford, Harrogate and Ipswich, this investment will ensure more people can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of these facilities in their local communities.”
