Seafield Park’s improved football facilities, including new changing rooms, were officially opened this week by The Football Association’s Director of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking.
The opening took place on Wednesday 21 May at Seafield Park, Hill Head. Sir Trevor was joined by Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward, and Mayor of the Borough, Councillor Ernest Crouch.
The newly-opened facilities at Seafield include two adult pitches, two mini-soccer pitches, a specific training grid and new state of the art changing rooms. The changing rooms were developed following a successful funding application to The Football Foundation for £319,950 and a Fareham Borough Council contribution of £230,000.
Children from seven borough schools and six adult clubs also received the Football Association’s Charter Standard from Sir Trevor.
The Charter Standard was presented to:
- Crofton Anne Dale Junior School (Cuckoo Lane Stubbington)
- Crofton Hammond Junior (Mancroft Ave, Stubbington)
- Oak Meadow Primary (Tewkesbury Ave, Fareham)
- Hook-with-Warsash Primary (Church Road, Warsash)
- Cams Hill Secondary (Shearwater Avenue, Fareham)
- Crofton Secondary (Marks Road, Subbington)
- Henry Cort School (Hillson Drive, Fareham)
- Whiteley FC
- Waites Construction
- Dove Travel
- Crofton Saints FC
- Fighting Cocks
- AFC Whiteley
Sir Trevor said, "It’s essential that we encourage local authorities and junior clubs to improve football facilities and coaching at grassroots level. It's vital that young children have facilities where they can be safe and enjoy fun, quality coaching.
"For many youngsters, playing football can teach them life skills like communication and teamwork, but for a very talented few, facilities such as these may be where the next generation of players will develop their skills.”
The Charter Standard was introduced in 2001 and is aimed at all clubs outside the Football League and Premier League. It sets standards for coaching, administration and child protection, with the overall aim of improving the playing experience for all.
Executive Member for Community, Councillor Connie Hockley, said, “Sport is an excellent way to develop team work and self-discipline, made all the better for good coaching. It’s especially pleasing, therefore, that so many of our schools and local clubs are receiving the Charter Standard at the Seafield Park opening.
“These new facilities offer a much better environment for our local young teams to further develop their footballing talents and maybe one day a local child might be the next David Beckham, David James or Rachel Yankey.”
Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, Paul Thorogood, said, “These new facilities at Seafield Park will really open up access to sport for people in the Hill Head area, particularly youngsters. It is thanks to the investment by the Premier League, The FA and Government that the Football Foundation exists to support projects like this excellent new facility.”
