Former England and Tottenham Hostpur midfielder Steve Perryman helped The FA to unveil a new, state-of-the-art 3G pitch in Devon.
The all-weather artificial grass pitch, the latest beneficiary of the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, will boost playing and coaching opportunities in and around Axminster.
With its home at Axe Valley Community College, the £675,000 facility is the only full-size 3G pitch in a 15 mile radius and will benefit people in East Devon and Dorset.
"This is a wonder," says Leroy Rosenior
It also supports The FA’s new four-year National Game strategy to boost participation, coaching and facilities, which was launched in August.
Former Torquay United manager Leroy Rosenior joined Perryman, now Exeter City Director of Football, representatives of the Devon County FA - which was instrumental in steering the project - and FA Chairman Greg at the opening and the were able to run the rule over the impressive new carpet.
“I used to play on a plastic pitch at QPR thirty years ago, and it was awful, whereas this is a wonder," said Rosenior, who has spells at Fulham, West Ham United and Bristol City - as well as at Loftus Road - on his playing CV.
"To get more talent coming through we need the facilities that give coaches and players the opportunity to get out there - in all weathers and at all times of the day.
"This facility will certainly give the area a great boost in achieving this.”
Local clubs Axminster Town AFC and Millwey Rise have committed to increasing the number of teams provided within their football clubs - with the growth in girl’s participation and youth football being prioritised as a result of the added capacity the new facilities offer.
The children in Axminster get ready for a game on the new 3G
FA Chairman Greg Dyke said: “The opening of this facility precisely meets the aspirations of The FA to ensure that grassroots football facilities are pulled up by their bootstraps and that clubs and players have an environment in which to grow and development – both in terms of participation and coaching for the next generation of English players.”
Nick Tregale, Youth Development Manager at Millwey Rise said: “Five years ago the club had no youth players, now we have 120 children.
"This new pitch can help us grow even more and support more young players coming through.”
And among the professional ranks, Exeter City plan to utilise the facilities to coach their development teams.
Its completion - in time for the new school year - complements the onsite leisure facilities, which include a sports hall, fitness suite, gym, grass football pitches and an adjacent swimming pool facility.
Martin Smith, Head of the Axe Valley Community College said: “The funding we received from The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund has enabled us to take the provision for sport we offer at Axe Valley Community College to another level."
