On Friday 28 October 2011, AFC Urmston Meadowside celebrated with Joe Hart, the official opening of their new state of the art sport pavilion. The club worked in partnership with the Manchester County FA to secure a £521,178 grant from the Football Foundation.
AFC Urmston Meadowside provide football for over 650 players and run 50 teams, now boast a new state-of-the-art sports pavilion, which is comprised of: six accessible changing rooms; officials’ changing rooms; and a community room that will be used to facilitate club meetings, coach education, school functions and local community groups.
Joe Hart commented on the day: “It’s tremendous to be opening this new facility for AFC Urmston Meadowside – and to see the excitement on all the youngsters’ faces here today.
“Grassroots football is where we all start out, including me, so it is important that this investment goes into community sports sites like this one. And of course there are lots of wider benefits sport has for young people and society.
“The Football Foundation and the Manchester FA are doing a fantastic job, with the funding they get from The FA, Premier League and government, to raise the standard of facilities throughout the grassroots game. Long may it continue.”
David Wright, Vice Chair and Fundraising Manager at AFC Urmston Meadowside, added: “The new sports pavilion is our pride and joy, the culmination of a lot of hard work, fundraising and dedication by the many volunteers that run this community football club. We would like to thank all those people who helped us along the way, but particularly our friends at the Football Foundation, the FA and Sport Trafford for their immense support in making our new clubhouse dream become a reality.”
