£385k Award to Upgrade Football Pitch at Academy Sport Leisure Centre

John Madejski Academy, Reading Borough Council and Academy Sport Leisure Centre have successfully applied for £385k from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund (PL/FA:FF) to upgrade and extend the current all-weather pitch.

This new pitch, located at Academy Sport Leisure Centre in Whitley, will be significantly better for football than the existing sand filled turf. The funding will create a new full size (106m x 70m) floodlit artificial football pitch.

The use of rubber crumb in the new 3G surface will provide a far better playing surface, much closer to grass than the old pitch it replaces. Not only will this now accommodate full sized games but it also overcomes many of the drawbacks of the old surface.

The capital grant offer from the PL/FA:FF represents 83 per cent of the total project cost of £460k. The remaining £75k is being jointly funded by Reading Borough Council, Reading Football Club and the John Madejski Academy. It is anticipated that the new facility will be up and running by the summer of this year.

A representative from the John Madejski Academy said: “The award of this grant is very positive news for south Reading and the local community. It represents a step change in what we can offer local football clubs, societies and organisations in terms of a high quality, state of the art playing surface. It will also support John Madejski Academy expanding elite football programme which is going from strength to strength.”

An Academy Sport spokesperson said: “The award of this grant represents the culmination of a year’s hard work by a range of stakeholders. We certainly could not have achieved it without the help and support of our local football clubs and key partners.

“This 3G pitch will provide local clubs with access to high quality football facilities, which will undoubtedly lead to greater participation. It represents a fantastic investment into quality sports facilities in south Reading.”

Cllr Paul Gittings, Reading’s lead member for culture, sport and consumer services, said:

“We are delighted with the result of the application which clearly shows the benefits of working with our partners at Academy Sport and the John Madejski Academy.

“The new sports pitch will provide improved opportunities for local clubs and people to use these facilities. There are thriving local clubs that will be able to develop further and we anticipate that this local use will continue to grow. The value of the facilities the council and its partners have provided over the years is clearly recognised by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.”

Find out more about the PL/FA:FF at  www.footballfoundation.org.uk