Plans for new football hub set to kick-off

Plans for a football hub on land in Grimsby have been finalised, thanks to an injection of cash from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

A bid for £1.5m to the Football Foundation to support the new Clee Fields project has been approved, so along with the money from the Council’s capital projects budget, the work can start to create new facilities on the site.

Two new 3G pitches, both suitable for football and one suitable for rugby, will be laid to replace the old turf pitches that have been out of use for several years. The new pitches will be able to be used all year round.

Also, as part of the project, new changing facilities will be created alongside a larger car park and additional security fencing. Air source heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting will be used in the scheme as part of the Council’s ongoing pledge to reduce carbon output in its projects.

The development of Clee Fields is part of the Council’s commitment under the Playing Pitch Strategy. This pledges to give all residents the opportunity to access sports pitches and facilities to support being active, whilst some urban land is made available for regeneration.

Cabinet member for leisure, councillor Tom Furneaux, said: “These plans will create excellent facilities at Clee Fields to help make sure we provide places where our residents of all ages can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits high quality sport, leisure and recreation services offer.”

Planning permission for the scheme was granted earlier this year, and since then, work has been ongoing to secure contractors to deliver the scheme.

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award towards developing the new facility is great news for the local community.

“It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and therefore help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country.

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government through Sport England – support facility development projects like this across the country over the next decade to transform our grassroots game and unlock the power of pitches.”