Young footballers have received a huge boost to ensure they can continue playing the beautiful game.
Blackrod Sports and Community Centre has been awarded a grant from the Football Foundation.
The £12,800 grant will help maintain football pitches in Blackrod over the next five years.
The pitches are home to a number of clubs including Blackrod Town FC, four Academy Juniors girls teams, four Blackrod AFC teams from Under-9s to under- 12s as well as the women’s teams.
In addition, the centre supports the over 50s walking football sessions which have been based in Blackrod since its formation couple of years ago.
More recently Blackrod Sports and Community Centre established ‘Talking Football’, which helps to support men’s mental health and spread awareness through football.
Blackrod Talking Football is breaking down barriers for men and boys
David Holden-Locke, chief executive of the Blackrod Sports and Community Centre Charity said: “The pitches are used seven days a week for training and games and so it is vital that they are well maintained, seeded and drained to ensure the best possible playing surface for our teams.
“After Covid and the suspension of Football nationally we were worried that the pitches would go to ruin or that teams may not return to play but what we found is that the pitches are needed more than ever.
“This local facility is very well used and has been well-loved locally by families and players of all ages for generations.
“The outdoor space is vital in the delivery of Blackrod’s health and wellbeing programme and a great community asset.
“This grant will ensure that the football pitches are safe to use for the next five years, and we are grateful for this funding from the Football Foundation.
“It means that our local teams and users can be reassured that pitches in Blackrod are safe and will be available to them all for years to come.”
Blackrod Sports and Community Centre is a local Charity established by local community members with the support of Bolton Council in 2017. It manages the Community Centre and football pitches in Blackrod.
Since taking over the charity has noted a marked increase in use of the community centres facilities.
Earlier this year the charity also received a grant as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations.
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