Sports minister's seal of approval

The Government's MP for Chatham and Aylesford joined Redditch MP Karen Lumley for the grand opening of the £900,000 Football Foundation-backed project at the EVO-STIK League Southern Premier Division Valley Stadium home on Friday.

Completed in September with the aid of a £561,000 grant from the Football Foundation administered Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund and a further £88,166 from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, funded exclusively by the Premier League, the revamp at the floodlit all-weather facility included the laying of a state-of-the-art artificial turf pitch and major improvements made to the changing rooms and clubouse.

Redditch United chairman Chris Swan, who was attended the opening along with local dignatories including the Mayor Cllr Joe Bake, put in a further £225,000 for the ambitious plans which included the installation of the third generation 3G artificial pitch, revamped facilities at the stadium and growing the community section to nearly 60 juniors, disabled and women’s teams.

The Reds chairman said: “We are exceedingly grateful to the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund for their substantial contribution to our project and the help they have given us along the way.

“This investment in grassroots football helps us to reach out to the Redditch community – not only through our many junior and disabled sides that see nearly 1,000 youngsters turning out for the club each week, but also through our popular soccer coaching camps during the holidays.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to the Sports Minister Tracey Crouch for making the day such a success and also to our own MP Karen Lumley who is a long-time supporter of the football club and what we are looking to achieve.”

In total, 17 new local teams are projected to created while the club will also be able to bring all of their 38 teams ‘home’ to one venue.

In addition to their own, including those from the club’s academy, the all-weather pitch will continue to host FA WSL top flight side Birmingham City Ladies who also run their Regional Talent Club from the ground.

The Albion Foundation, the charitable arm of Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, will also use the pitch to deliver programmes for their Player Development Centre for youngsters aged six to 11.

After receiving the civic and state seal of approval, promotion-chasing Hitchin Town are the first visitors to the stadium in the EVO-STIK League Southern's top flight next Saturday when Darren Byfield's side will hope to bounce back from their 1-0 weekend reverse at St Neots.

Images courtesy of Twitter/@FootballFoundtn & @BirminghamFA

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