Staffordshire school to receive state-of-the-art £820k football facilities
State-of-the-art football facilities will be built at a secondary school in Staffordshire after it received grants totalling almost £820,000.
Wolgarston High School, in Penkridge, will use the money for new synthetic third generation (3G) football pitches and to refurbish changing rooms.
Funding for the scheme has come from two sources.
The Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund have both provided £342,803 for the pitch, while a further £150,000 has been given by the Inspired Facilities Fund for the changing rooms.
The grant was secured by Penkridge Juniors FC, Stafford Rangers Juniors FC, Wolgarston High School, South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire County Council, provides advanced facilities football clubs in the local area.
Headteacher at Wolgarston High School, Philip Tapp, said: "The school and local community will benefit immensely from the much improved facilities, which will also be available to the public and local community sports clubs.
"We are convinced that the project will help to inspire a new generation of sports men and women in the South Staffs area and beyond."
The new facilities will play host to the majority of Penkridge JFC and Stafford Rangers JFC training sessions and matches. The Mid Staffs Junior Youth League will use the site for mini-soccer fixtures at under seven to under 10 age level.
Wolves Community Trust will also use the pitch on a weekly basis to deliver coaching sessions and inclusion projects.
Norman Mence, Chairman at Penkridge JFC, said: "As Penkridge Juniors enter its 30th year, what better way to celebrate than seeing ideas come fruition thanks to hard work that is a credit to our club, all partner organisations and the local community.
"This project will provide an outstanding opportunity for the club with players being able to train and play on one of the best facilities in the region, and ultimately allow us to fulfil its development goals of adding under 21 and adult teams to its roster."
The funding will be further boosted by an extra £320,000 from Penkridge JFC, Stafford Rangers Juniors FC, Wolgarston High School, South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire County Council.
Councillor Ben Adams, cabinet member for learning and skills at Staffordshire County Council added: "This grant award is great news and means more people in South Staffordshire and beyond will have greater access to a wide variety of sports, be able to learn new skills and enjoy healthier, more active lifestyles."
