FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter visited St. George’s Park on Wednesday to inaugurate the Goal project - worth around £310,000 - awarded to the landmark development, which officially opened in October.

The FIFA Development Committee awarded The FA’s application for Goal Programme funding towards the sports science and medical centre at St. George’s Park. It is hoped that the funding will help realise The FA’s ambition to make St. George’s Park a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence.

Blatter said: “FIFA is committed to the development of football across the world, and the Goal projects are crucial in achieving this mission.

"These projects provide concrete assistance needed by each national association in the form of technical centres, football turf pitches and other infrastructure.

"Protecting the health of the players is one of our key objectives and I am therefore very pleased that this project will be dedicated to a sports science and medical centre at such an emblematic location as St. George’s Park.”

David Bernstein, FA Chairman, said: “This is fantastic news and reflects FIFA’s commitment to raising standards within the game around the world and to our improving relationship with FIFA.

"I’d like to thank our colleagues at FIFA for their support of St. George’s Park as well as those who continue to work so hard on the project here in England.”

David Sheepshanks, Chairman of St. George’s Park, added: “The medical facilities at St. George’s Park will hugely advance sports medicine as we know it in England.

"This FIFA funding is significant in that it enables us to step up our work in the critical area of sports science, which is a key function of St. George’s Park.”

Ian Beasley, The FA’s Head of Medical Services, commented: “It is the UK’s first totally integrated sports medicine centre, supported by an advanced research programme, and has all the latest equipment.

"There are a number of centres worldwide which have similar kinds of offering, but nowhere in the UK, so it has been set up on the back of wide consultation with sports medicine experts about what is needed. We are also hoping to earn accreditation as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence.”

Neil McCullough, Business Development Director for Spire Healthcare, said: “The 25,000sq ft centre is fantastic in terms of size and facilities, including a world-class hydrotherapy facility, a rehab gym, with isokinetic equipment; a strength and conditioning gym, seven physiotherapy rooms, and a human performance lab, with an altitude chamber.

“Services taking place include blood testing and profiling, video gait analysis and much more: everything to help sports people achieve their maximum potential.

"The idea of the centre is to take the lessons from elite sport and make the technology and medical expertise accessible to the wider public, who will also be able to make appointments at the centre, or be referred to our experts.”

The Goal Programme allows each member association of FIFA to receive funding for football development projects that respond to the special needs of their national associations.

Launched in 1999 by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the Goal Programme has to date provided support for over 600 development projects across the world, with a total of USD 250 million having been invested in them.

The Goal Programme is now an essential source of support for member associations, as is the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme. 199 associations worldwide have already benefited from the Goal Programme.

The partnership between FIFA and The FA was also further strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding signed jointly by the FIFA President and The FA Chairman.

Through this agreement, The FA will offer its expertise in various football disciplines to FIFA member associations under the umbrella of the FIFA PERFORMANCE Programme.

This expertise will range from technical and sports medical areas via St. George’s Park, to sharing best practice in areas such as stadium safety, women’s football and revenue generation.

“The FA is looking forward to further developing its international relations with FIFA and FIFA member associations by sharing ideas and expertise,” added David Bernstein.

“This partnership is an important complement to The FA’s already extensive international outreach work.”

For more information about the 330-acre St. George's Park facility, visit the official website