Waverley Borough Council has announced that it has been successful in securing an offer from the Football Foundation, to fund 76% of the cost of a new third generation artificial turf pitch at the Woolmer Hill Sports Ground in Haslemere. On 5 July, the council’s Executive approved actions to complete the necessary checks and documentation to secure the grant.
The Football Foundation is a grant-giving body funded by The Football Association, Premier League and Sport England, and will provide £672,947 for the artificial pitch, which will be matched with £155,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy funding from Waverley Borough Council. A further £51,500 has been committed by Beacon Hill Football Club and Haslemere Town Junior Football Club.
There is considerable unmet need for playing surfaces locally, as clubs are having to turn down players due to lack of capacity. The new Third Generation (3G) pitch will combine longer synthetic grass, offering better grip, and a smoother playing surface, with a rubber crumb underlay. This creates an excellent all-weather playing surface with shock absorbing properties to help reduce the risk of injuries.
Subject to concluding the grant process and appointing the construction contractor, the council hopes to be able to make a start this Summer, with the new pitch ready for use before Christmas.
Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing, Parks and Leisure, Councillor Kika Mirylees, said: We’re delighted that the Football Foundation has recognised the importance of supporting grass-roots football in the borough and in particular, Haslemere, which has been seriously underserved in terms of the availability of quality playing surfaces.
“We are determined to enable more people to access community sporting facilities across the borough and encourage active, healthy lifestyles. The new 3G pitch will improve access for all groups, including junior players and disability football, as well as allowing for recreational use by community groups.
Neill McWilliams, of Beacon Hill Football Club, said: “We are delighted that our efforts over the last five years will soon come to fruition. This development has been a real community fundraising effort between Beacon Hill Football Club, Woolmer Hill Sports Association, Sport Haslemere and other local clubs, but would not have been possible with the fantastic support of Waverley Borough Council and also the Football Foundation who have provided a large part of the funding.
“Based on our ethos at Beacon Hill Football Club of 'Football for All’ our club has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in girls’ football and more recently in disability football. The all-weather training facilities that this development will bring will make a massive difference, not just to our club, but for the wider community of Waverley. “
Image: A CGI of the proposed 3G pitch on site at Woolmer Hill
Picture credit: Imagereel