£1 million football hub is unveiled at St John Bosco

A new £1 million football hub has been unveiled today at St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth. The new hub hopes to facilitate a 40% increase in female sport participation.

Former Premier League Referee, Chris Foy joined Michelle Hinnigan, captain of Everton Ladies FC and her first team coach, Andy Spence to officially open the £1m 3G artificial grass pitch and changing room. Ian Hussin, a local assistant referee, also assisted proceedings as did Stacey McMahon, a sports tutor from the Liverpool FC Foundation College.

The state-of-the-art facility was made possible thanks to a £637,245 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which provides grants towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities. The grant has enabled St John Bosco Arts College to build a floodlit pitch that will be used by a range of community groups and local primary schools.

In addition to Everton FC Centre of Excellence, several grassroots clubs including Richmond Raith Rovers, Red Rum FC and the Liverpool FC Foundation College also use the 3G pitch to deliver their Young Leaders and Football Futures programmes.

Through this project, the school worked in close partnership with the Football Foundation and Liverpool FA to establish a five-year Football Development Plan (FDP) projected to increase female participation by over 40%.

Headteacher Darren Gidman, said: “Thank you to Chris Foy for opening our new 3G pitch and changing pavilion. The new facilities at St John Bosco Arts College are a wonderful opportunity not only for the students at the college but for the wider community.

“The funding provided by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund will encourage, develop and promote football for all with particular emphasis on developing football for girls and women. St John Bosco will provide a hub in the north of the city by improving grassroots football that offer top class facilities and opportunities.”

Chris Foy, head of community and public engagement at the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, added: “Grassroots sport in Liverpool is now better off thanks to the investment in this new pitch and changing room, which was made by the Premier League & The Facilities Fund. St John Bosco will serve as an important sports hub in its community, with provisions for people of all ages and abilities to play sport just for the pure enjoyment of it.

“What is also excellent to see is the strong link between the lowest levels of the game and the professional one. Everton FC were represented here today and the Liverpool FC Foundation are going to be very active here helping to support young volunteers and making sure teenagers make the right life choices.”