Weedon open new facility at Jubilee playing fields

On Friday 19^th May the Right Hon. Chris Heaton-Harris MP officially opened the new pavilion and changing rooms at Jubilee playing fields in Weedon. The ceremony saw key individuals and organisations involved in the project gather to celebrate the opening of this fantastic new community facility. The impact of this facility will be felt not only by the growing football club and visiting teams, but also the wider Weedon community through the Site Development Plan that Weedon Sports Association have committed to delivering.

Edward Phelan, Chairman of Weedon Football Club, had this to say at the opening:

“On behalf of Weedon Football Club I am delighted to be standing here today as Chairman, on what is a huge day in our history, the culmination of a project that has been a long time in the making.

The club, which was started by Cyril Marriott in 1969, using a few bits of wood from Leatherland’s yard and some willing volunteers to make the goal posts, has continued in much the same vein to where we find ourselves today. Our aim is always is to provide a safe and friendly environment for children of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the game, get fit and make friends, whilst providing a full pathway to adult football. This coming season we will have a record ten teams from under 8 through to the adult team, including our first ever all girls team, not forgetting the Diddy Dons programme which gives 3 to 6 year olds their first taste of stepping on to a football pitch.

A new base of operations gives us a renewed chance to make Jubilee Field the centre of our organisation, and the centre of the community, once again.

At lot of work has been done in the last three years since we had the go ahead from the Football Foundation to turn a near on 30 year dream into reality. I would like to put on record the club’s eternal gratitude to Weedon Bec Parish Council, Northamptonshire FA, the Football Foundation and of course to Weedon Sports Association.

Finally I would like to express my personal thanks, and that of Weedon FC, to Tony Wincott. Without Tony’s tireless efforts and his resolve to get the project to the finish line, this simply would not have happened. We can never show you how truly grateful we are to you.”

Stuart Smith, Head of Facilities and Investment at Northamptonshire FA, shared his thoughts:

“I remember visiting Jubilee Field when we first started talking about this project a few years ago. It was a crumbling old cabin back then, so it's fantastic to return and see this new community facility now open. The investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government, via the Football Foundation, has enabled this fantastic community facility to become a reality. Congratulations to everyone involved in the project.”

If you’d like to speak to Northamptonshire FA about the support available to rebuild and refurbish your community facility, please feel free to contact Stuart Smith, Head of Facilities & Investment, at stuart.smith@northamptonshirefa.com.