SHILDON is set to benefit from a specialist new pitch after Shildon AFC secured investment from the Football Foundation, alongside funds from Durham County Council and the Club.
Shildon AFC has received confirmation that its bid for funding has been approved, paving the way for the installation of a brand new FIFA Quality Standard 3G artificial pitch at its Dean Street Ground. Work is set to begin in June 25
The replacement of the grass pitch will bring huge benefits to the club, preventing games from being cancelled due to bad weather and offering a reliable playing surface all year-round.
The investment will also have a profound impact on the wider community, providing a home for more than 50 teams, including women’s and girls’ teams, youth, and disabled teams. Additionally, the facility will improve sporting and recreational opportunities for local people, teams, and schools, offering a safe and welcoming social space.
David Dent, Chairman of Shildon AFC, said: “This is a game changer both for Shildon AFC and the community, with funding approved and planning permission in place it’s all now a reality and we can start detailed planning for the future. We can now achieve our ambitions of being a thriving community club offering football and other sporting opportunities to everyone including women and girls and disabled people ”.
“We’ve worked closely with the community to understand their needs, and this new facility addresses many of them — from providing an enhanced playing surface to offering wider opportunities to use the club’s other facilities.
“Securing the Football Foundation funding is a massive achievement, and we’re excited to begin work in June. I would like to thank them and our partners Durham County Council and Durham FA for believing in what we are doing and more importantly what we can go and achieve with this facility. We’re on course to have this ready for our teams and the wider community for the 25/26 season.”
The new facility is also expected to boost the local economy by attracting more visitors to the town, while creating jobs and promoting health, wellbeing, inclusivity, and diversity.
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