World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst was in town alongside local MP Yvette Cooper to pay a visit and toast a double celebration in grassroots football.
The pair delivered a £375,000 cheque from the Football Foundation’s Premier League and FA Facilities Fund to Castleford Academy to build a new state-of-the-art artificial grass pitch at the school to complement the existing sports facilities and expand the number of opportunities for the local community to access high level sporting facilities.
Sir Geoff was present in Castleford to hand over the cheque for a new football facility
And the launch event also featured players and coaches from FA Charter Standard Development Club of the year 2014, Castleford White Rose, who will play matches at the venue once it is completed this summer.
"It is my absolute privilege to see the work of Castleford White Rose," said Hurst, who in his role as McDonald’s Director of Football is leading the search to find this year’s grassroots heroes.
"The club exemplifies all that is great about the grassroots game and I can see why they impressed the judges so much.
"In every corner of the country, we are discovering examples of true grassroots heroes.
"All are winners in their own right, so the judges face a very difficult challenge to decide those that deserve the highest recognition. It is always tough and I expect nothing less this year.
Cooper added: "I’m really pleased that The FA are investing in new facilities at Castleford Academy - and great that this will help get more girls into football too.
"Castleford White Rose FC already do a brilliant job of getting girls to play and enjoy the sport - so this is a great chance for the Club and the school to benefit."
With the new facility at Castleford Academy providing a part-time home for White Rose, other local football clubs such as Castleford Town FC are also set to benefit from the development.
"We are delighted to have received such a large sum of funding to help get this project off the ground," revealed George Panayiotou, head teacher of Castleford Academy.
"The world class facility will add real value to the school and the local community.
"The launch event at the Academy was a real success and to have such a prestigious guest in the form of Sir Geoff Hurst visiting the school is a great honour."
You can nominate your local grassroots hero by clicking here.
