Located at the St Helens Borough Council-run Sutton Leisure Centre site, the new 3G football pitch was made possible thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
After netting a £677,000 grant from the Football Foundation, work begun on the site in February 2021. This new facility replaces an old junior grass football pitch which was prone to water logging and had not been fit to play on for a couple of seasons.
The grant enabled St Helens Borough Council to address the short fall of artificial football facilities in the south of the Borough as identified in St Helens’ Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) – with the pitch being used on average by 1,000 footballers each week, either for training or matches.
The new facility comprises a full size floodlit 3G football pitch that can also be split into junior sized 5, 7 and 9 a-side pitches.
The site will be used by Parkdale Sidac JFC and Penlake JFC, the partner clubs in the project. In addition to these clubs, New Street FC, Junction FC, Clock Face Miners JFC, Pilkington FC, Windle Labour FC, FC St Helens, St Helens Town AFC, Rainford Rangers JFC – along with The Sutton Academy and the borough’s school games programme – will also use the pitch.
The council worked in partnership with the Liverpool County FA to secure the Football Foundation funding.
After officially opening the new pitch this week, Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage, said:
“It’s great to see these fantastic facilities at Sutton, which wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous support from partner clubs Parkdale Sidac and Penlake. The 3G is also used by teams across the borough which is great to see.
“It’s so important that we support our community clubs and encourage everyone to get active, especially our young people. These facilities help to provide a fantastic base to do just that and will be here for the community for many years to come. ”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Sutton Leisure Centre’s 3G pitch is now open to the public after receiving Football Foundation investment.
“Good quality facilities support the health of local people and communities, which is why we’re investing in projects like this across the country with funding provided by the Premier League, The FA, Government and Sport England.”
For booking enquiries, call 01744 677375 or email suttonleisurecentre@sthelens.gov.uk
