Eastleigh and Southampton are the next areas set to benefit from improved grassroots football facilities as part of The FA Parklife Programme.
Introduced in 2016 alongside the Premier League and Sport England, The Parklife Programme was set up to help address the issue of poor pitch quality in grassroots football by increasing the number of 3G artificial pitches, facilities and participation programmes available across the country.
The country’s first of 150 new Parklife football hubs opened in Sheffield and 30 local authorities are set to benefit.
The Monks Brook Playing Fields site on Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh is subject to a planning application in the coming months, which will consist of three full-size floodlit 3G facilities, together with associated changing and parking facilities and will become home to the Eastleigh & District Mini soccer league.
In addition, a new housing development on Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh will see a significant mitigation package realised, following the loss of Stoneham Park.
Hampshire FA’s chief executive Neil Cassar said: “The Parklife Programme is an exciting opportunity to transform the football landscape within Southampton and Eastleigh.
“The site on Stoneham Lane will address issues we currently have on capacity for youth football and the overall quality of pitches.
“We will continue to work with partners in order to deliver the hubs that are currently in development as part of a drive to ensure football is sustainable in this area.”
