England Under-21s and Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore opened a new 3G pitch in Durham this week in his first role as a Football Foundation ambassador.
Watmore was at St John’s School and Sixth Form College to see the new £614,950 project, which was made possible thanks to a £214,950 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.
The former Altrincham man, fresh from scoring in the Black Cats’ 3-0 win at Norwich City last weekend, then cut the ribbon at the new facility, which replaced a dilapidated Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and part of a natural grass playing field that was prone to waterlogging.
Sunderland and England Under-21s star Duncan Watmore is a Football Foundation ambassador
"It was a really big day for everyone connected with St John’s and I’m thrilled to have played a small part by opening their new pitch for them – you can’t help but be impressed by it," said Watmore, 22.
"I know from speaking to people about the Football Development Plan that there simply will not be a time when someone isn’t using it, which is just brilliant.
"Not so long ago, I was playing at the lower levels of the game and I can tell you that having access to quality facilities, just like this one, makes all the difference when you are trying to improve as a player.
"The beauty of floodlit 3G pitches is that they don’t get waterlogged and you can play on them through the dark evenings.
"I remember trying to train on some real quagmire natural grass pitches and then having to finish the session early because it got too dark!
"It’s not just the school who will benefit from this new pitch but the wider community, including St Mary’s JFC who will be able to run an extra 15 teams, including two disability sides – testament to the fact that this is a pitch for everyone to enjoy and become healthier as a result."
The Football Foundation worked with St John’s School and the Durham 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 main partner clubs on site are St Mary’s JFC and Escomb JFC.
Watmore had a big impact in his last appearance for England in November
As a result, St Mary’s JFC are able to increase the number of teams they cater for from 18 to 40, with the majority of growth at boys and girls Under-10 to Under-18 level over the five year period. The club also intends to introduce Under-11 and Under-18 disability teams.
The School Sports Partnership – a scheme designed to increase sports and physical education opportunities for schoolchildren – plans to give 26 of St John’s teachers and 36 Junior Sports Leaders the opportunity to gain FA Level One coaching qualifications.
Lisa Byron, Headteacher at St John’s School and Sixth Form College, added: "This has been an exciting project for St John’s and we are extremely grateful for the generosity and support of the Football Foundation and Sport England in bringing this state-of-the-art facility to fruition.
"The new artificial pitch, complete with floodlights, is great for our students and local people, fantastic for bringing communities together and a source of inspiration for all those aspiring footballers and sportsmen and women.
"The facility has transformed the delivery of our PE curriculum and provides year-round access, ensuring that football and sport continue to thrive both within and beyond St John’s."
