Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey shown The Way at new Wolverhampton Youth Zone

'This will make a genuine difference to the city', 'the transformation is incredible', 'the facilities are as good as any in the region'.

Just some of the ringing endorsements from Wolverhampton's great and good as they took a first look at the city's new £6 million youth zone.

Three years in the making, The Way opens its doors to hundreds of youngsters in January.

The School Street building is already lighting up part of the city skyline in an area which, combined with the new £60m Sainsbury's supermarket and soon-to-be-complete Marston's headquarters, has undergone a striking overhaul in the past two years.

Outgoing Wolves owner Steve Morgan is behind the project.

"It's been a fantastic journey," he said. "This place belongs to the city of Wolverhampton and it belongs to the young people of Wolverhampton.

"They will take it over and it will be like a home to many hundreds of young people.

"It got its name of The Way from young people, they came up with the logo, the graffiti, they've given up so much of their time to make this happen.

"I'm so excited. I'm not sure even they thought it would be as good as this but it really is so special.

"I'm very proud – it's the best youth zone yet and it's going to be fantastic for the city."

And its many patrons, backers and supporters – some of whom have donated tens of thousands of pounds to the project – were given a pre-launch first look at the state-of-the-art centre.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said the city could be proud of the youth zone and paid tribute to outgoing Wolves owner Morgan.

"I'm delighted that it's finished and in the new year hundreds of youngsters in Wolverhampton will benefit from what are as good a set of facilities as you'll find anywhere in the region," he said.

"The great thing about this is we've literally used every available bit of space to its maximum capacity, there's nothing wasted.

"As is the case at Compton it's a shining example of private and public sector cooperation and working for the betterment of this great city of ours.

"There is a lot of things happening in the city of Wolverhampton that we can be proud of.

"It takes people like Steve to get the bit between their teeth and drive it force. It was his concept, his idea, he's great at rallying support and people have followed him.

"It's not just semantics. This really will make a difference. If they're here learning, being nurtured, doing something positive, then they're not outside doing something negative.

"It's going to create a real social benefit."

The vibrant, colourful building will cater for youngsters aged eight to 19, seven days a week. It houses a 4G football pitch, cricket, basketball, table tennis, pool and climbing wall facilities, as well as a music and dance hall, fitness gym, a computer room for employment skills lessons, arts and crafts room, boxing gym, radio booth, media room and a kitchen for cooking sessions.

Youngsters will also be mentored off the streets and into employment.

"They're really tackling the important issues," businessman Henry Carver, who along with Marston's, Wolverhampton Homes, City of Wolverhampton College, and the University of Wolverhampton among many more, has backed the project, said.

"Young people will have somewhere to go instead of hanging around on the streets. The facilities are fantastic and there's a social welfare aspect to this too."

A 150-strong workforce of paid staff and volunteers will man the facility.

The aim is for 500 youngsters to be signed up by the launch date of January 16, with thousands more to follow.

Wolves legend Steve Bull has also backed the project. He said: "The transformation of the place is incredible.

"They didn't have anything like this when I was growing up – I used to kick a football around the street and against a brick wall.

"It's fantastic what they've done and great that so many people will benefit from it."

Ex-Dudley MP Chris Kelly and his father, also called Chris, who founded Black Country truck firm Keltruck, also attended Monday evening's launch event.

The former politician, now Keltruck chairman, said: "The Kelly family has its roots in Wolverhampton and we are delighted to be involved in this wonderful project.

"I would definitely have come here as a child. It really will make a difference to the city."

And Wolves director John Gough, a driving force for the project since its infancy, added: "What's on offer is absolutely wonderful.

"It's a real passion of mine but this wouldn't work without the 70 or 80 volunteers who've made this happen.

"Some people will come here and need inspiring and we hope to help get them into work.

"I'm 100 per cent behind it – it's a fantastic opportunity and Steve Morgan has had a real passion for this, and indeed for Wolverhampton as a whole with the football club, Wolves Aid and the Morgan Foundation."

The centre has been built on the site of the former Scala Cinema.

It has also been supported by One Direction superstar Liam Payne, who made a surprise appearance at the centre in April.