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The Bobby Moore Sports Hub, featuring pitches named after Sir Trevor Brooking, Paul Ince and Chloe Kelly, has opened in Dagenham, thanks to the largest ever grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

 

 

Located in Parsloes Park, the Hub features 16 grass sports pitches and three 3G pitches – one of which is an impressive National League System stadia pitch with spectator seating used by local club May & Baker FC.

 

These multi-million-pound facilities have been funded by a £6.2m grant from the Football Foundation – the largest grant ever awarded by the charity. This investment adds to the more than £1bn grant funding awarded by the Foundation over the last 23 years to improve grassroots facilities across the country.

 

The project has also been supported by an additional £6.1m investment from Barking and Dagenham Council and a further £1m contribution from the Greater London Authority and the London Marathon Foundation.

 

As well as World Cup-winning England captain and West Ham United legend, Bobby Moore, the Hub pays homage to several local football legends, with pitches named after Paul Ince and Sir Trevor Brooking – both of whom grew up within a stone’s throw of the site.

 

The Hub was opened by several past and present West Ham United players, including WSL defender Hawa Cissoko, academy graduate Anton Ferdinand and Barking-born Bobby Zamora.

 

This project is part of the Football Foundation’s Hubs programme, which has already seen 21 multi-pitch sites open across the country. Over the next 12 months, an additional three Hubs are due to open to provide safe, accessible and quality facilities for people to come together and play sport.

 

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This fantastic new Hub will not only provide a huge boost to community sport in the area but will also have a transformative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, bringing people together and strengthening the local community here in Dagenham.

 

“We hope this Hub will not only honour the legacy of several legendary local footballers, but also continue to inspire people of all identities, abilities and backgrounds to lace up their boots.

 

“Thanks to the investment we receive from our funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation is working to deliver more Hubs like this across the country so that everyone can have access to great places to play.”

 

The Hub is also home to The Chloe Kelly Pitch, named the 2022 UEFA Women’s EUROs-winning Lioness and Manchester City forward, who grew up in London.

 

As well as inspiring local women and girls to lace up their boots, this pitch will host female-only tournaments and teams through local grassroots football teams and schools.

 

Chloe Kelly, Manchester City player and England International, said: “Some of my best memories of football were made playing in cages as a kid with my friends in London.

 

“I wouldn’t be the player I am today without the experience of growing up in this city so it really means a lot to me that more local girls will have a great place to play where they feel welcome and hopefully inspired too.

 

“To have all this happen on a pitch named after me is a real honour and I’d like to give a massive thanks to the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation for honouring the whole squad’s achievements in this way.”

 

The opportunity to develop the scheme was identified by the strategic partnership held between Essex County Football Association and Barking and Dagenham Council, who worked with the Football Foundation and other partners to deliver the Hub. Essex County FA will be using the site to host Coach and Referee Education & Development Opportunities.

 

Brendan Walshe, CEO of Essex County FA, said: “Essex County FA are delighted to have been able to work strategically with Barking and Dagenham Council to enable a significant grant from the Football Foundation. We worked closely with the Council through the project timeline and seconded an Essex FA employee to undertake critical community engagement and feasibility work.

 

“We congratulate all the partners on the ambition to deliver this high-quality Hub and the opportunity it provides to the local community to continue to enhance the rich football history and talent that this local area has.

 

“We also warmly thank all the volunteers from the local grassroots community whose commitment and dedication to provide local participation opportunities, through the clubs and leagues, has made the vision of this Hub a reality, and look forward to working with all the partners and grassroots community to enhance participation across all areas of the game for the future.

 

“We look forward to continuing our work with our Local Authorities and the Football Foundation to improve the grassroots football facility network across the county.”


 

 

 

 

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