Former England Manager Graham Taylor will officially open Bradley Football Development Centre at 4pm on Monday 7 March at Bradley Playing Fields, Bradley Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN37 0AG. As part of the evening Graham will also host an autograph signing session and present awards to local young footballers.
The development that Graham is unveiling has transformed Bradley Playing Fields into a hub of social and sporting activity. The improved site, which has been expanded by nearly three hectares, has been redeveloped to include 12 full size grass pitches, six Mini-Soccer pitches five junior pitches, two cricket wickets and a 3rd generation (3G) floodlit artificial grass pitch.
Furthermore, the complex now boasts ten changing rooms, three officials rooms, office space, spectator toilets and a function room with kitchen and bar provisions. More general improvements to the complex include enhanced security and better pitch drainage, all crucial elements to make the complex a regional centre of football development excellence.
The state-of-the-art site would not have been possible were it not for a £1m grant from the Football Foundation, the sports charity funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government via Sport England. An additional £100,000 was awarded by the Foundation's partner organisation, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, which funds ground development at the lower levels of the game.
A further grant of £300,000 has come from The FA as part of their capital allocation within the Whole Sport Plan agreed with Sport England. This specific aspect of funding has been awarded to support the sustainability of community clubs and create more opportunities to participate in sport within a high quality environment.
The £3m upgrade has also been part-funded by North East Lincolnshire Council, the Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education and Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN). The scheme has been supported by local football leagues and local clubs, including Grimsby Borough FC and Cleethorpes Town FC.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "On behalf of everyone at the Football Foundation, I would like to congratulate North East Lincolnshire Council and the Lincolnshire County FA for all the hard work that has been invested into securing this grant. I am particularly pleased that Graham Taylor, a tremendous supporter of the grass roots, is officially opening this first-class facility to the local community."
"Since 2000, we have made a huge impact on community sports facility provision right across the country. In Lincolnshire alone we have supported 192 projects worth £20.2m with investment provided by our funders, the Premier League, The FA and the Government."
Councillor Leanor Pidgen, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: "We are extremely proud of this valuable community venue. It is a tremendous place for our sports people to train. It is already a hub of activity and will be for years to come."
"Sessions like the Skills School at Bradley can be a really fun and enjoyable way for young people to build their confidence and develop a new skill. As well as picking up new football techniques or improving the ones they already have, the young people who take part also learn about team working and self development, which can be very valuable."
Sue Middlehurst, Principal and Chief Executive of the Grimsby Institute Group, said: "It is very important to everyone at the Institute that we play an active role in our community and the development at the Bradley Pitches site gives us that opportunity."
"Our involvement with the pitches, and some of the teams who will be playing from them, allows us to support the outstanding work that goes on in our community, but also those people who devote a great amount of their personal time, to doing something which they clearly love."
As brand ambassador for Precision Training Graham Taylor is coming to Bradley in association with Pro-Active Teamwear, principal suppliers of Precision Training clothing and equipment. Glen Wilkinson, Sales Director at Pro-Active Teamwear, said: "We approached Precision Training to see if we could acquire Graham for the evening and are delighted that he has kindly agreed to open the Bradley Football Development Centre. He will also meet and greet members of the public, present trophies to the new flagship Skills School and to help showcase the branding."
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