6/10/06-Abbeydale gets a £616,000 Sports Grant

Footballers in Abbeydale and Abbeymead  are celebrating today following a £426,400 award by the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity.The County council has added another £150,000 to the Project , and the City council has added another £40,000.

The cash bonanza will help Abbeydale Community Association finance the construction of new third generation artificial turf pitch, floodlighting and a changing pavilion at the Abbeydale Community Centre.

The Abbeydale and Abbeymead areas of Gloucester has experienced a huge growth in population over the last thirty years and particularly so between 2000–2005. This has brought with it an increase in the population under 30 years old. A crucial challenge is therefore the provision of public sports facilities to match the needs of the community.

The Abbeydale Community Centre project is seen as a priority for the area as there is a shortage of pitches and changing facilities within Gloucester.  In fact there are currently no third generation artificial surfaces in Gloucester.

Councillor Andrew Gravells says:

'I'm really pleased that the application put by in  Abbeymead Rovers and the Abbeydale Commiunity Association has secured this Grant from the Football Foundation.I'm pleased too  that I have been able to persuade both the City council and the County council to add another £190,000 to this Project.We're going to have some of the best sports facilities in Gloucestershire here as a result of these grants.

Its great news for our area.