Member Article

North East's grass roots football boosted following £300k funding

Lockey Park, the public park based in Wideopen North Tyneside, is set to reopen following a £300k transformation, following investment from North Tyneside Council and a £99k grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

The funding has been used to install a new floodlit third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP), as well as future improvements to the park’s existing grass pitches.

Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government, via Sport England, the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity.

The Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund provides grants towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities.

Since it was launched in 2000, the Football Foundation has awarded around 13,000 grants worth more than £500 million towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £700 million, over £1.2 billion of investment into the grassroots game.

In addition to the pitches, an extension has also made to the car park, taking the 36 spaces to 58, helping to meet the demand and alleviate parking pressures in the area.

Moreover, to celebrate the reopening of the transformed facilities, the local authority has organised a range of free activities on Saturday, October 18.

From 11am to 2pm, the park will be taken over by a giant inflatable assault course and gladiator duel; a bouncy castle; sports including dodgeball, volleyball and football; and face painting.

Before the activities commence, North Tyneside Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn will officially open the new facilities.

Also on Saturday 18, Wideopen Football Club (WFC) will be offering soccer skills training.

Norma said: “This is fantastic news for the whole community; the improvements will not only benefit Wideopen Football Club, but also local schools and the wider public.

“The grant has enabled the council to provide the very best facilities for these groups - which is something they longed for - and I know they are very excited about playing on the state-of-the-art pitch.

“I would like to personally invite residents to come along to the family fun day and enjoy all the free activities we have on offer.”

Chairman of the football club, Mick Fawcett, said: “From humble beginnings, Wideopen Football Club can now celebrate having first class facilities with the clubhouse and now the completion of the new 3G pitch, which will benefit not only WFC but the whole community.

“On behalf of the club, I would like to thank all for making this happen”.

Chief executive of the Football Foundation, Paul Thorogood, said: “The Football Foundation is responsible for managing and delivering the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England.

“This work in Lockey Park is an example of the positive impact that this funding is having on our grassroots game. First-class facilities like this are crucial to creating more opportunities for local people to enjoy regular sport.

“Aided by the Northumberland FA, North Tyneside Council deserves huge credit for taking a vision and turning it into a reality, using funding provided by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

“Sport has the power to make a positive impact on the health of communities and this wonderful new facility will improve the sporting experience of local people and encourage them to be more active.”