The ribbon has officially been cut on the newly refurbished Wednesbury Hub thanks to a cash injection from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
Originally opened in 2011, the small-sided 3G pitches, gym and community pavilion at this site had fallen into disrepair – severely limiting their use by the local community.
Now, thanks to grant funding from the Football Foundation alongside additional investment from Sandwell Council, the site has been transformed into a vibrant, inclusive Hub for sport, fitness, and community activity.
Works included:
- Refurbishment of existing pitches to provide a total of seven small-sided 3G surfaces.
- Replacement of 23 sets of floodlights with energy-efficient LED units.
- New equipment, flooring and decoration for the gym
- New energy efficient boilers and LED lighting throughout the pavilion and refurbishment of the community cafe.
Jack Matthews, Director of Programmes and Support & Impact at the Football Foundation, said: “The Wednesbury Hub is one of 29 Football Foundation Hubs we’ve invested in across the country, thanks to the funding we receive from the Premier League, The FA and Government via Sport England.
“Every community deserves a great place to play, so I’m delighted that the people of Sandwell now have access to quality, safe and welcoming facilities at this site.
“Not only will this project provide a boost to sport locally, but it’ll also create a space for the local community to come together and be active.”
Find out more about the Football Foundation’s Hubs programme here: footballfoundation.org.uk/hubs-programme
The revamped facilities are already being used by 16 local grassroots junior football clubs and is supporting recreational football with daily pay and play sessions.
In the next 12 months, the Hub is expected to support the creation of more than a dozen new women’s and girls’ football teams using the site. From November, the Hub will be used each Sunday morning for matches by 32 mini-soccer teams of Walsall Junior Youth Football League
As well as match play, the pitches will be used for several community programmes, including Premier League Kicks session delivered by The Albion Foundation, walking football sessions delivered by Leisure United, SEND sessions delivered by local schools High Point Academy and Elm Tree Primary Academy, and a pan disability league.
The Hub will also host Centre Spot CIC, which delivers inclusive activities such as free youth sessions, holiday camps, and structured football clubs for children not currently part of a team.
The site will be operated by the charity, Leisure United on behalf of the National Football Trust, who will re-invest any surplus income generated back into grassroots sport locally.
Mark Coulson, Leisure United Chief Executive Officer, said: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Premier League, The FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation for their generous £1.1 million investment, as well as to Sandwell Borough Council for their crucial £250,000 contribution.
"In August 2022, Leisure United stepped in to keep this important community facility open while working to secure its long-term future. Thanks to this collective commitment, the future of this much-loved local asset is now secure.
"We are also deeply grateful to Phoenix Collegiate for placing their trust in Leisure United to operate the site—a trust we value immensely and are fully committed to honouring by unlocking the full potential of this facility for years to come.”
Sandwell Council invested an additional £250k of public health grant monies into the project to provide a coordinated programme of affordable, and sustainable health-promoting programmes for the people of Wednesbury.
Comments
Add a comment