Football icon Gordon Banks has been honoured in his hometown of Sheffield with the official opening of a new multi-million-pound sports hub in his name.
The well-known football site on Woodburn Road in Darnall, Sheffield has undergone a major transformation thanks to a £2.1m investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, along with an extra £0.9m in partnership funding from Sheffield City Council.
The new facility features seven LED floodlit small-sided 3G pitches, offering enhanced playing opportunities for people of all ages in and around Darnall. In addition, a refurbished pavilion building provides changing facilities and a social space that hosts a cafe and a meeting room.
Chris Barry, Head of Technical at the Football Foundation, said: “This fantastic new community hub will not only provide great places to play but also a great space for the local community to come together.”
Turn up and play sessions are open to all, and local organisation Darnall Education and Sports Academy (DESA) are running activities for boys and girls in the area.
Sheffield United Community Foundation (SUCF) is also offering a range of inclusive programmes, including Premier League Kicks sessions, Wildcats, ladies sessions and LGBTQ all turn up and play.
SUCF is running weekly coaching programmes for disabled young people and a new pan-disability league in partnership with Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “I believe these new improvements will have a massive impact to the community, allowing people to play football in top quality facilities alongside an exciting programme of sessions run by experienced organisations.”
Beyond its significant impact on the local community, this Hub is also playing a key role in exploring alternative materials for 3G pitches.
The six 5v5 pitches are part of a three-year research initiative led by the Football Foundation to research potential alternatives 3G pitch systems. In collaboration with SportsLabs (a FIFA Accredited Test Institute) and Loughborough University, the project will gather performance data nd player feedback to ensure every aspect of the playing experience.
Abdul Malik, Darnall Education and Sports Academy (DESA), said: “This project represents a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to promote physical well-being and inspire our local community.”
