Wisbech St Mary residents are set to benefit from fresh investment into grassroots sports facilities thanks to a £978,583 grant.
This investment will enable the Wisbech St Mary Sports and Community Centre to create a new stadia 3G pitch.
This new facility, possible thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation, will ensure the community can access quality training and matchday facilities.
The pitch will provide additional opportunities for women, girls and disabled participants to play football, and Wisbech St Mary Football Club will also be providing various additional recreational opportunities, creating an “inclusive community football hub” in Fenland.
These improved facilities will represent a significant improvement on the existing facilities and will help to preserve the grass pitches which are heavily used by 22 teams.
Paul Albutt, a trustee at the Community Centre, said: “We currently run 22 football teams for children and adults.
“This grant will enable us to expand our football offer to more people of all ages within our local community including disabled and walking football. We will also be able to offer casual turn up and play sessions for all.
“We are looking to introduce a full-time football scholarship programme in conjunction with a local partner.
“These are certainly exciting times ahead for Wisbech St Mary and we thank the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation and Cambridgeshire FA for showing faith in our project.”
The site will be used by Wisbech St Mary Football Club, Wisbech St Mary C of E Academy, various community groups and the Cambridgeshire FA.
This project has also been supported by an additional £156,000 from Wisbech St Mary Community Centre, the football club and The Hudson Trust.
Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, said: “It’s great news that Wisbech St Mary Sports and Community Centre’s dreams of creating a new full size 3G football pitch can now become reality.
“This is a huge boost to sporting facilities in our community and will make an enormous difference to footballing opportunities across even more age groups.
“It opens up a fantastic place to enable more people to be active and enjoy sport, and is further progress in attracting more investment for improved facilities in Fenland.”
Katie Critchley, Football Development Manager at Cambridgeshire FA, added: “It’s fantastic news that Wisbech St Mary Sports and Community have successfully secured Football Foundation funding for a Stadia 3G pitch.
“This investment will not only enhance the playing experience for local teams and community groups but also underscores their commitment to grassroots football.
“The new pitch will serve as a catalyst for growth and community activities, ensuring everyone who would like to play football, has the opportunity to do so.
“We’re incredibly pleased for everyone involved and we’re excited to see this facility come to life”
Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “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 Wisbech St Mary Sports and Community Centre towards developing a new pitch is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”
