Brookvale Recreation Center at Runcorn. (Stuart Bogg/Runcorn Weekly News)
Football teams from across the region will be marking the opening of a 3G pitch in Runcorn following a £303,000 overhaul.
The floodlit 100x64m artificial playing surface at Brookvale Recreation Center was funded courtesy of a combined grant from the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.
It replaces the previous sand-based pitch.
Halton’s mayor is due to officially launch the revamped amenity on July 27 ahead of a Premier League Kicks tournament organized by Everton in the Community and hosting under-12s teams from across the North West including two from Halton.
Other teams to use the pitch regularly will include Beechwood JFC, Brookvale United, Runcorn Sports FC and Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy, in addition to Cheshire police’s Kops ‘n’ Kids (Keep On Playing Sport) scheme.
Cllr Paul Nolan is the council’s Executive Board Member for Leisure, talking about the new pitch Cllr Nolan said: “I would like to thank Cheshire County FA who worked with Halton Borough Council to secure Football Foundation Funding for this brilliant new facility at Brookvale Recreation Centre .
“We know that getting involved in sports and exercise is great for young people’s physical and mental wellbeing, but joining in also creates opportunities for young people to make new friends, have fun and learn life skills like working as part of a team, motivation and overcoming challenges.
“This is an excellent facility that is open for all of the community to use and enjoy, I really do hope it inspires people to come along and join in an activity.”
The two teams of Halton children playing in the Kicks tournament are representing Everton in the Community, and all of the players are drawn from youngsters who have been attending free Monday night football sessions at Brookvale, run by Everton in the Community with the backing of the Kops ‘n’ Kids programs.
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PC Ian Hampson, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, has been closely involved in the scheme and has worked with Brookvale Recreation Center for years to host activities for young people.
PC Hampson said: “The opening of the 3G pitch at the Brookvale Recreation Center is going to have an extremely positive impact on the local community.
“The Kops N Kids programme, run by Cheshire police, is dependent on facilities such as the new pitch at Brookvale Recreation Center helps to give children the opportunity to get out of the house, try new sports and activities.
“It allows children to be physically active, and it helps to promote mental health and well-being in the children.
“This is just one of the many things that Cheshire police are doing to fight against antisocial behavior, and follows the launch of the ‘My Hidden Chimp’ program which was funded by the police and crime commissioner and is designed to help children with confidence issues .”
Read more news from Runcorn, Cheshire, here.