Presdales School 3G Pitch Unveiled
A brand new all-weather 3G pitch has opened at Presdales School thanks to a £824,160 grant from the Football Foundation
The new facility was made possible thanks to investment and support from the Football Foundation, Presdales School, Hertfordshire FA, Herts Sports & Physical Activity Partnership, Stevenage FC Foundation and Bury Rangers Youth. This has enabled the school to install a modern full-size floodlit all-weather football pitch, providing facilities that will support the grassroots football network of the East Herts region.
Located in the all-girls Secondary School and Sixth Form in Ware which is attended by over 1,000 pupils, the pitch will benefit children aged from 11 to 18 for curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Additionally, the project is also linked with the neighbouring Pinewood School, who are part of the Pinewood School Academy Trust, a specialist SEN setting for pupils with Learning Difficulties, Autism and Speech, Language and Communication needs. This will enable the school to further support young people with EHCP’s (Educational, Health and Care Plan’s) in their education programmes.
The school were awarded a £824,160 grant from the Football Foundation to deliver the £1,091,161 project, as part of the Lionesses Futures Fund. This fund is a key initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for women and girls to play football at grassroots levels. It provides targeted investment into facilities with women’s and girls’ football provision at their core, helping to bridge the gap in accessibility and ensuring that young players have the infrastructure needed to develop their skills.
Linked with Bury Rangers Youth, Bengeo Tigers, Stevenage FC Foundation and Hertford Town Youth, this facility will predominantly support female football provision, with an estimated 75% of the site’s usage going towards the women’s and girls’ game.
Steve Maker, Head of Football Development and Investment at Hertfordshire FA, stated:
“This facility is a game-changer for the local football community, particularly for female participation. Investing in high-quality facilities like this ensures that everyone has access to a safe and suitable environment to develop their skills and enjoy the game. We’re glad to be able to support this project and would like to thank all involved in making this happen.”
Since 2000, Football Foundation investment has provided 1,315 grants worth £23.4m to support the development of grassroots football across the whole of Hertfordshire, covering everything from goalposts to grass pitch improvements, fencing and floodlight through to new 3G pitches. For more information on how funding could help your club grow, and how we can support you in being able to access the grants follow the link below.