Petr Cech's in

Surrey County FA are pleased to report that another two new football facilities funded through the Football Foundation have been officially opened this month, adding to another great year of facility investment in Surrey.

Earlier this month, Ewhurst Youth and Sports Club opened their new pavilion, which will provide both the Senior Football Club and Junior Football Club with facilities to meet the needs of the 21st century. They have also completed extensive drainage works to the pitches.

Ewhurst Parish Council were awarded a grant of over £300,000 last year, representing 69 per cent of funding towards the total project costs for the developments at the Broomers Lane Recreation Ground

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was then present alongside the Mayor of Elmbridge at the Xcel Leisure Centre, in Walton on Thames on 10 December for the official opening of a new third generation pitch and changing room facilities. The Football Foundation awarded Elmbridge Borough Council a grant of £949,500.00 in May 2008, representing over half of the funding towards the total costs of this project.

The Council will be maximising the use of the pitch by engaging with a wide range of partners to help develop football in the wider community, including use by Walton Casuals FC, the Surrey County FA Disability League and Chelsea FC for community coaching and inclusion work.

So 2009 has been another great year for facility development in Surrey with a total of five new facility openings and four new funding awards being made by the Football Foundation. In total, a further £2.3m has been invested into new and improved facilities in Surrey, which will hopefully all be opened in 2010.

“This year has been great for facility development in Surrey, and each facility opening brings increased opportunities for the development of the game,” said Caroline McRoyall, Surrey County FA Development Manager. 

“The Surrey County FA are committed to improving facilities throughout Surrey which is a vital part of our four year strategy.” 

Stuart Lamb, FA Regional Facilities Manager for the South East added: “Each of these projects will provide excellent facilities for their surrounding communities and deserve tremendous credit for being successful in obtaining Football Foundation awards.

“We are working with a number of clubs, schools and Local Authorities to help them realise their facility ambitions.”