The Council was awarded £436,000 (69 per cent) of the total refurbishment costs of £636,000 by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation….reports Asian Lite News
Footballers of all ages and abilities in Enfield are celebrating after Enfield Council officially opened a newly refurbished 3G pitch. The focus of the facility is to enable and encourage more women and girls’ teams to lace up their boots and play football.
The pitch, which is next to Southbury Leisure Centre in Southbury Road, was declared opened by Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture and Public Spaces at Enfield Council, and players from Enfield Town Ladies Football Club girls’ teams (under 10s, 11s, 12s and 13s).
Cllr Anyanwu was put through her paces in a series of training drills that were provided by Enfield Town Ladies coaches at the launch, following a tour of the newly refurbished gym and changing rooms at Southbury Leisure Centre.
The Council was awarded £436,000 (69 per cent) of the total refurbishment costs of £636,000 by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, who work closely with passionate people in communities up and down the country and invest in grassroots facilities.
The remaining £200,000 (31 per cent) cost was provided by the Council through a fund which the operator of Southbury Leisure Centre (GLL known as Better) contributes £27,000 into each year, generated from funds from pitch hire.
Following the England Women’s team’s success at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, and subsequent campaign by the players, more girls now have the option to play football at their schools.
During the past four years, 129,000* more girls have become involved in schools’ football across the host cities of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, including London where the Lionesses defeated Germany in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture and Public Spaces at Enfield Council, Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu, said: “I am delighted to declare the new 3G football pitch open following the completion of extensive improvement work.
“We continue to invest in our leisure facilities and in the physical and mental wellbeing of our residents. The refurbishment of this pitch and facilities will help to grow female participation in our national game.
“I hope the pitch will be used particularly by many women and girls in the future, so they can develop their skills and aspire to our Lioness role models like captain Leah Williamson and Enfield’s own Jessica Naz.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award to Enfield Council towards developing refurbishing the football pitch at Southbury Leisure Centre is great news for the local community.
“It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and therefore help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country. It’s therefore very welcome news to hear that this funding will support Enfield Council in developing women and girls’ football in particular in their local community.
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA, government and Sport England – support facility development projects like this across the country over the next decade to transform our grassroots game and unlock the power of pitches.”
Alongside the new pitch, footballers will also see refurbished floodlights, improved pitch changing rooms and new goalposts and nets. The pitch will support the provision of football sessions for people with disabilities and is fully accessible.
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