Former England defender Chris Powell opened a new refurbished 3G pitch at Northolt High School in Ealing on Tuesday afternoon.
It was Powell’s first visit in his new role as a Football Foundation Ambassador, with the project made possible thanks to a successful £288,034 grant secured by Ealing Council and Northolt High from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.
Lambeth-born Powell played for a host of London’s top teams including West Ham United and Charlton Athletic, who he also managed for three years, and declared the stunning new facility officially open by unveiling a commemorative plaque with teachers and pupils from the school.
Chris Powell playing for England against Spain in 2001
The grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund enabled the school to refurbish the old 3G carpet, which had become so worn that it was hindering the pupil’s PE lessons.
Now the new state-of-the-art surface will play host to a range of different football sessions for the students, as well as rugby lessons.
"I was delighted to be at Northolt High School and it was really inspiring to see the pitch full of young people enjoying their football today – the facility will have a significant impact on local grassroots sport for years to come,” said Powell.
"I am delighted to become a Football Foundation Ambassador because their commitment to improving grassroots facilities, like this one in Northolt, is exceptional.
"Over the last 16 years, the Foundation have honed their ability to identify the areas that need investment most and then build facilities that get more people playing sport, making entire communities healthier in the process.
"It is also brilliant to see the Foundation’s work in connecting the grassroots game with the elite level of the sport via professional clubs’ outreach work.
"Brentford FC’s Community Sports Trust are already delivering some great sessions from the new pitch, which is giving local kids a positive focus that they otherwise would not have had.
"Projects like this would not be possible without the money, invested expertly by the Football Foundation, which comes from the Premier League, The FA and the Government through Sport England. Without their money, facilities like the one I opened today would simply not exist – their commitment to the lowest levels of the game should be praised."
Gloria Lowe, Headteacher at Northolt High School, added: "The new facility is a great addition to the school and the pupils are so grateful to have a state-of-the-art, all-weather, pitch that they can use during PE lessons and for extra-curricular activities.
"Our local grassroots partner clubs have also benefitted from the investment, as they too can use this brilliant facility to train and play matches on.
"Without the generous funding from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, this pitch would not have been possible, so I would like to extend my thanks to them for providing the funds that allow Northolt High to have a sustainable, top-quality sporting facility for the future."
The Football Foundation worked with Ealing Council, Northolt High School and Middlesex FA to produce a five-year Football Development Plan (FDP), which is a vision for how football will be delivered at the site with emphasis on increasing participation.
The plan foresees the creation of an adult five-a-side “pay and play” league, as well as a spike in the numbers of male and female players using the facility for informal matches.
Projections suggest that the Premier League Kicks programme – a football-focused community outreach scheme aimed at difficult to reach young people – will see a rise in the numbers of children taking part. In fact, Brentford FC’s Community Sports Trust will deliver weekly Premier League Kicks sessions and also run a futsal programme at the refurbished facility.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "I am delighted that a grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund has enabled Northolt High to upgrade their 3G pitch. This development will provide a real boost to sport in the local area.
"We are really pleased to welcome Chris Powell to the Football Foundation as an Ambassador. Chris played at the very highest level of the game with the England team and has gone on to enjoy a career as a highly respected coach.
"He is incredibly passionate about the grassroots game, as he demonstrated by offering advice to the students at the opening."
