GRASSROOTS football is set to benefit from half a million pounds of funding to go towards the city's facilities.

The £600,000 grant from the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation comes after research by the Football Foundation exposed a shortage in all-weather facilities in Worcester.

A new 3G all-weather pitch will be built next to the Perdiswell Leisure Centre, funded in part by an additional £200,000 investment from Worcester City Council.

 

 

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The development of the new pitch is part of the city council’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy.

Once complete, the pitch will be accessible to sports clubs, organisations and schools in Worcester.

Councillor Jabbar Riaz, chair of the council’s communities committee, said: "On behalf of Worcester City Council, I would like to thank the Football Foundation for this significant investment, that will bring a major boost to our city’s sports offering.

"Planning permission is already in place, so we hope to get construction underway in the very near future and have the 3G pitch open later this year.

"This new all-weather facility will be open every day, bringing a dramatic expansion in opportunities for people of all ages and from all walks of life to get fit and play more sport in Worcester, cementing our position as a regional sporting destination."

Jack Handsaker, football development officer at Worcestershire FA, said: "Worcestershire FA is pleased to work with both the Football Foundation and Worcester City Council to develop a new, all-weather 3G pitch at Perdiswell.

"The local football community will benefit as a result of this investment, and we look forward to supporting our clubs further once the facility is open to the public."

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.

"This grant award to Worcester City Council towards developing the new all-weather pitch at Perdiswell is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play."