The Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity has announced one of its largest ever grants to create a new home for grass roots football in North Yorkshire.
The Stokesley Sports Club and North Riding County FA have teamed up to create one of the country's most modern sports complexes, at Stokesley, just outside Middlesbrough.
A total of £875,000 has been provided by the Foundation for a new clubhouse, incorporating six changing rooms, a social area, two referees changing areas, as well as an all-weather pitch, four mini soccer pitches, two junior and three senior football pitches, The remaining funding for the project has been made available with grants from the NRCFA, The FA, Hambleton District Council and Stokesley Sports Club.
The existing clubhouse will be replaced and a newly acquired piece of land will also be developed to provide an additional four mini soccer pitches, one junior and two further senior pitches.
The new equipment will also accommodate the new North Riding County FA regional headquarters and will act as a catalyst for the development of football throughout the county.
The project will develop significant opportunities for all footballers with a particular emphasis being placed on players from rural communities, female players, players with disabilities and improvements to the retention rate of players aged over 16.
Over 200 new players are expected to become regular users of the complex which is expected to be completed by the next football season.
The club are also committed to establish extra-curricular sessions in three local primary schools and to host a primary and secondary school football festivals, There will be a number of county projects such as mini-soccer and soccability festivals.
Mark Jarvis, Chief Executive of the North Riding FA said: "NRCFA HQ is now moving to a more central location for the County. Stokesley Sports Club has been working towards becoming a FA Charter Standard Community Club, which they should achieve in the near future. The two bodies will share the site for the local Community."
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