A new community sports hub including a changing facility and refurbished artificial turf pitch has been unveiled in Chester-le-Street thanks to a £600,000 Durham County Council project.
The project also received a £293,000 grant from the Premier League & FA Facilities Fund, which is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government through Sport England and delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity.
The new facilities at the former Roseberry Sports and Community College at Newfield in Pelton were officially opened on Saturday (22 July) at a launch attended by council members, sports teams and MP for North Durham Kevan Jones.
As well as the refurbished artificial grass pitch, the new changing pavilion now comprises of four team changing rooms, two officials’ changing rooms and a clubroom.
The council will work in partnership with Hilda Park FC to manage the facilities in return for priority bookings while other clubs will also be able to hire them subject to availability, as part of the council’s work to meet current and future demand from teams and clubs.
Investment included financial contributions from Cllr Colin Carr and Cllr Alison Batey, who each provided £20,000 from their neighbourhood budgets.
Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, said: “This new facility, with an improved pitch and changing pavilion, is an excellent addition to our area. Sites such as this one in Pelton benefit so many people, through providing a great social outlet and a way to keep fit whilst enjoying yourself.
“My thanks go to everyone who has made this possible, particularly the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, who make a real difference to improving grassroots sport. I would also like to thank the council for inviting me to do the honours in unveiling their community sports hub.”
Cllr Bill Kellett, Chairman of Durham County Council, said: “I am delighted to be here today to see the opening of the new changing facilities and the refurbished pitch.
“This project will help ensure there are enough pitches in the area to meet the demand from clubs and will further encourage people of all ages to take part in physical activity and get more active.
“Our thanks go to everyone who has made this possible, particularly the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund who make a real difference to improving grassroots sport.”
By providing more high-quality facilities, coupled with coaching at the appropriate age group, the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund aim to improve the experience for regular players as well as attracting new players to the game.
Many of the new state-of-the-art facilities will serve to strengthen the connection between professional football clubs and their local communities, particularly in the most deprived areas of the country, through the professional clubs’ community trusts’ outreach work.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “I am delighted that a grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund has enabled Durham County Council to make the upgrades to their site in Pelton.
“With this funding, provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England, we are helping to improve community sports facilities across the country and thereby the playing experience of those who take part.
“This project in Chester-le-Street is the latest addition to the inventory of modern community sports sites we are developing that cater for the needs of local people who want to play sport purely for the love of it and to stay healthy.”