Work to start on new FA-funded 3G football pitch in Hungerford
The project is costing nearly three-quarters of a million pounds
Work is due to start on a full-size 3G football pitch in Hungerford.
The pitch - which is costing nearly three quarters of a million pounds - will be situated at John O’Gaunt secondary school but will be available for community use.
It’s being funded from various sources including the FA, West Berkshire Council and the Greenham Trust.
The new pitch will become a key training venue for Hungerford Football Club and many other local clubs.
The ÂŁ804,000 project had been identified by the Football Foundation and the Berks and Bucks Football Association as having potential for community use and has been supported by West Berkshire Council who are adding ÂŁ75,000, which Greenham Trust are match funding with a further ÂŁ75,000 and the Excalibur Academies Trust contributing ÂŁ70,000. Hungerford Town Council have contributed ÂŁ10,000 and Hungerford Town Football Club ÂŁ6,350.
Janine Lewis, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Countryside, says:
“The new, larger 3G pitch will be a great asset to both the school and local communities. We’re delighted work is starting.
““Keeping people active, fit and healthy is a key priority for the council and we’re grateful for the collaboration and support of our partners. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to secure the funding needed to replace the existing facility and install such a top quality pitch as part of the Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy.The positive impacts of exercise and social activity on mental health are well known and were brought even more to the fore during and following the pandemic. It’s another reason that playing pitches are so valued by our communities.”
Richard Hawthorne, Principal at John O’ Gaunt School says:
“This is a real triumph of collaboration, heart, energy and investment in the present and future of our wonderful, wider rural community. First class facilities such as these will mean so much to the young people in the area, but also to their families and neighbours in the town, its satellite villages and environment.
“It’s a truly dynamic project which will be an important hub of vitality and aspiration, and we believe the influence and connectivity will be far-reaching. Sport brings us together in shared spirit, effort and celebration. It means a very great deal that this will be at the heart of our community, to which we are so privileged and proud to belong.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation says:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities. This grant award to John O’ Gaunt Secondary School towards developing a new 3G football turf pitch is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”
The project is due for completion in mid-October this year.