Some good news has been announced for community sport in Wellingborough. The Borough Council of Wellingborough has been awarded a grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government, through their charity, the Football Foundation, to install a new 3G pitch at Redwell Leisure Centre.

3G turf is an all-weather surface and the pitch will be the first of its kind in Wellingborough, enabling local teams to train all year round. The Borough Council of Wellingborough worked with the Football Foundation and Northamptonshire Football Association on this project.

Quintin Allen, Wellingborough’s Sports Development Manager at Northamptonshire Sport, which lead on the project submission, said: “This is a very exciting scheme to be involved with, to secure £438,575 funding from Football Foundation recognises the strength of the bid and provides payback for those involved in the grassroots development of Football.”

Priority use will be given to the local Charter Standard Clubs that serve the area and the floodlit space provides a flexible facility that will accommodate an 11v11 football sized pitch plus a variety of youth football pitches, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Borough Council of Wellingborough, added: “The pitch will vastly improve the development of local football and the sporting offer available for the local community. I hope that residents will enjoy the new pitch for many years to come.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Since 2000, the Football Foundation has awarded 189 grants worth £6.7m across Northamptonshire County FA towards grassroots sports projects worth £11.8m and it is great to hear that Wellingborough Council will be the latest beneficiary.

“Funding from the Football Foundation supports the development of brand-new facilities for local communities. Made possible by investment from the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England, the Foundation is supporting the grassroots game by improving access to high-quality football facilities across the country.”

The pitch operated by Places Leisure on behalf of the Council is expected to open late summer in readiness for the 2019/20 football season and will be available to book from 9am-9pm during the week, 9am-8pm Saturdays and 9am-4pm Sundays.

For further information, email Quintin.Allen@firstforwellbeing.co.uk

To find out more about Redwell Leisure Centre, Barnwell Rd, Wellingborough NN8 5LP, visit  https://www.placesleisure.org/centres/redwell-leisure-centre/