Former West Brom and Wolves star Don Goodman helps launch new £800,000 Dudley College pitch
Dudley College has opened a brand new £800,000 3G artificial pitch.
Former Wolves player Don Goodman officially unveiled the pitch at Priory Road along with MP for Dudley North, Ian Austin.
It comes as the college received a grant from the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.
Through the project, the college has built a new floodlit artificial grass pitch that will be used all-year-round by the college's students and a number of grassroots clubs, including Wrens Nest FC and Wordsley Wasps JFC.
A new changing room pavilion with two team changing rooms, two officials' changing rooms, a standing area and spectator toilets has also been built.
Sky sports pundit Don, who played nearly 600 games during his twenty year career in the Football league – including many years playing in the West Midlands for West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Walsall – gave his backing to the project.
He said: "It's great see such fantastic facilities being made available to the young people of Dudley.
"I hope this new facility inspires them to keep playing throughout their lives. Perhaps one day I'll be commentating on them as they run out on the pitch in the Premier League."
The Albion Foundation – the charitable arm of West Bromwich Albion – will also offer a range of activities on the new all-weather pitch, including Premier League Kicks and a Player Development Centre.
Mr Austin added: "These new all-weather pitches help keep youngsters fit and healthy, off the streets and out of trouble so I want to thank Dudley College for their hard work and the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund for the financial support for this great addition to the town and the Dudley Learning Quarter.
"I hope it will encourage more people of all ages to put their boots on and get out here and enjoy the beautiful game."
Lowell Williams, principal of Dudley College, heralded the opening of the new ground. He said: "We now have facilities that are unsurpassed anywhere in the Black Country.
"We can provide all-year round playing and coaching for our competitive players."
