New sports pitch for Sands End

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It will feature a rubberised surface, with floodlighting, training area and viewing stand.

A new sports pitch will be built in Sands End, Fulham, after a joint bid for funding from a local school, community group and the council was approved by the Football Foundation – the UK’s largest sports charity.
The successful application for £148,000 from the Football Foundation (part of the Big Lottery Fund’s £30 million commitment to school football facilities – see note) was made by Langford Primary School, Sands End Adventure Project (SEAPIA) and the council’s education department. The remaining cost of the £214,000 project will be covered by the school, the council and another charity grant.

The all-weather pitch, which will be used by the school and SEAPIA, will be built across the boundary of the school and SEAPIA sites, in Marinefield Road, Fulham. Planning permission has been granted and building work is due to start early next year.

The 44m by 14m pitch will feature a rubberised surface, with floodlighting, training area and viewing stand, and will be used by children and young people aged five to 21. Langford Primary School will use the pitch for PE and some after-school sports clubs and coaching sessions. SEAPIA will use it for after-school, weekend and holiday activities. Sports played on the new pitch will include football - with coaching sessions by Chelsea Football Club - as well as basketball; mini-tennis and tag rugby. Teachers, parents, volunteers and young adults will be encouraged to train as football coaches to help develop local talent.

Langford Primary School is being developed as the borough’s first full service extended school as part of a government initiative to improve services for children, young people and their families. Other developments include a new community nursery, which opened at Langford this term offering affordable day care and early education for more than 50 children. This is in addition to the school’s own nursery classes.

Anne-Louise De Buriane, headteacher of Langford Primary School, said: “This is excellent news. The new pitch, which will be used during and outside school, will provide an exciting range of activities for local children and young people and further strengthen our links with the community, which are developing as part of our establishment as a full service extended school.”

Peter Lee, chief executive of the Football Foundation, welcomed this latest cash boost for London schools. He said: “Children deserve the opportunity to expand their potential, not necessarily to be the best, but simply to enjoy our nation’s favourite game. This massive funding package will go a long way to ensuring the next generation of footballers have access to some of the most modern facilities the game has to offer. Sport, particularly football, can play a huge part in encouraging healthier lifestyles, enhancing personal development and acting as an aid for learning.” More…
Funded by the FA Premier League, the Football Association and the government, the Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities.

Lesley Schwartz, SEAPIA treasurer, said: “This is an important step forward for SEAPIA, which will enable us to greatly expand the range of facilities and activities we can offer to local families as well as further developing our close relationship with Langford Primary School.”

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “We are really excited about the contribution Langford Primary School and SEAPIA are making towards the development of activities and services for children and families in south Fulham, which also include a new all-weather pitch in Hurlingham Park and the relaunch of Sands End Community Centre with Sure Start South’s early years and family support services, Sands End Library, sports and fitness and adult education all under one roof. The new pitch in Sands End will help local young people to keep fit and enable us to further develop the sporting talent in our community.”

 

September 19, 2004