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Breaking Ground on Site of New Sporting Facility

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Posted Jan 31, 2019 in The Facility

  • Club legend John Trollope and High Sherriff of Wiltshire Nicky Alberry broke ground on the site of new community sporting hub.
  • The facility will enable the Trust and Swindon Harriers Athletics Club to further expand and enhance the projects and programmes that are enjoyed by thousands of local participants of all ages.

Thursday 31st of January saw a landmark moment in Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust’s efforts to create a Sporting and Community Facility which participants, supporters and the STFITC Trust family can be extremely proud of. Swindon Town legend John Trollope and the High Sherriff of Wiltshire Nicky Alberry broke ground on the site of the facility ahead of the construction and the installation of the full size all weather pitch and Community Club Hub pavilion. Surrounded by partners, supporters and friends of the project, the cutting of the first sod ceremony took place on the County Ground recreational ground.

The £2.4 million state-of-the-art facility will enable the Community Trust and the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club to further expand and enhance the projects and programmes that are enjoyed by thousands of participants. The Trust delivers to a wide range of Swindon people from 2 to 85 years of age in sessions not solely football focussed, but also tackling issues relating to health, social inclusion, education and sports participation. This new facility in central Swindon will allow existing and new participants the opportunity to access these projects and programmes, enhancing and benefitting the community’s health and well-being.

This is a momentous day for everyone that has been involved in this project. It has taken many years and a considerable amount of hard work to get to this stage. The long term vision and dream of creating a state of the art community facility in the heart of Swindon will start taking shape. This is the biggest day in the Football in the Community Trust’s history as this new facility will benefit thousands of local people. We would like to sincerely thank all our funders, partners, sponsors, supporters and participants who have played their part in helping us get to this stage. We look forward to creating a facility that the people of Swindon can be proud of.“

Jon Holloway — Head of Trust

Construction of the all weather pitch and pavilion is due to begin in early February, and the hope is that the local community will be benefitting from the provision of this new facility by the summer, ahead of the Trust and Swindon Harriers moving into their new home later in the year.

This facility will be a fantastic asset to the local community and it is incredibly exciting that building work is now about to start.

What makes this project so exciting is that it will benefit people of all ages, from grass roots sports to health and wellbeing programmes aimed at older members of the community. It will also provide a great boost to Swindon Harriers Athletics Club who will have a new base from which to grow and encourage even more people to take up sport.”

- Councillor Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Property Services

Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust has worked with the Football Foundation and Swindon Borough Council to secure a grant of £1,000,000 from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund towards the project.

Since 2000, the Football Foundation has awarded 166 grants worth £6m across Wiltshire towards grassroots sports projects worth £22.8m and it is great to hear that Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust will be the latest beneficiary.

Funding from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, delivered by the Foundation, will support the club in developing a brand new facility for the local community. Made possible by investment from the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England, the Fund is supporting the grassroots game by improving access to high-quality football facilities across the country.”

- Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation

For further information please contact Jon Holloway on Jon@​stfc-​fitc.​co.​uk or (01793) 42130307966 305320

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