Sports Minister visits new Football hub
Sports Minister and local Eastleigh MP, Mims Davies, was given a tour of the new £8 million state-of-the art football hub at Monks Brook playing fields that is nearing completion and will soon benefit thousands of local footballers of all ages and abilities.
The Council has joined forces with the Football Association (FA) to develop an FA Parklife Football Hub on Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh. Thanks to significant grant funding from the Football Foundation, Sport England and the Premier League, together with funding from the Council, the new facility is set to become one of the biggest football hubs in the country, providing high quality facilities for local clubs and residents to enjoy.
The new hub, that will be called Stoneham Lane Football complex, will consist of three full-size, floodlit 3G artificial grass pitches (including one stadia pitch), three junior and senior grass pitches, together with an eight-changing room pavilion, clubroom, café with an education and social space together with car parking for 350 cars.
Minister for Sport Mims Davies MP said, “ As the local MP it’s fantastic to see facilities and opportunities like this to help local people to be more active. I’m really delighted to see the local Council and the Football Association coming together in partnership to produce this superb facility that will help transform the lives of so many people.”
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Commercial & Football Development Officer, said: “This is a significant moment for the future of grassroots football in Eastleigh. This Parklife centre is a state of the art venue and one we were proud to showcase to Eastleigh MP and Sports Minister Mims Davies.
“Once complete, it will host at least 10,000 people from the local area who will be using it on a regular basis. I’d like to thank to the local council and our Hampshire County FA for working with our delivery body – the Football Foundation – on ensuring the original vision for the site will soon become a reality.”
Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee Cllr Paul Bicknell, said: “We are pleased that construction of this fantastic new project is nearing completion. It will provide the opportunity for children and adults of all ages and abilities to play football, become more active and enjoy high quality facilities. This is another great example of our commitment to providing excellent community sporting facilities for local people to enjoy.”
The facility will become the new home to over 130 local teams as part of the Eastleigh & District Mini Soccer League (EDMSL), and will be the new home of local club, AFC Stoneham, who have over 30 teams.
Neil Cassar, (Hampshire FA) Sports Minister Mims Davies MP, and Mark Bullingham (FA) at the new facility