Southam College and Warwickshire County Council score with Football Foundation grant
Footballers in Southam and the surrounding villages were celebrating today following a £688,424 grant awarded by the Football Foundation.
A cheque will be presented to the college by Lord Pendry, President of the Football Foundation at the official press launch to be held at 12.45pm on Wednesday 24 March 2010, Southam College, Welsh Road West, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 0JW.
Funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity with a £40m budget going straight into the heart of football.
The funding boost will allow Southam College to build a 3rd generation FIFA level artificial floodlit pitch, changing rooms and seminar room to support football development of players, coaches and referees for the area including women and girls football which is the fastest growing sport in the UK.
Huge credit goes to the Deputy Headteachers David Knapp who retired this year and Roger Eadon for their hard work over several years to achieve this award for the College with support from the Birmingham FA. The pitch will benefit students at Southam College and support the teaching of PE replacing an area which is often unusable during the winter months
Thanks to an investment of almost £80,000 from Warwickshire County Council’s Extended Services programme the pitch can also be used by other schools within the Southam area.
In addition local clubs, primary schools, college students and the local community will also benefit from access to state of the art training facilities available all year round to 9.30pm every evening. Any clubs or organisations interested in using the facility can express their interest by contacting the College.
Ranjit Samra, Headteacher at Southam College, said: “We are extremely excited about the opportunities which this new facility will bring not only for our students, but the whole community. We cannot wait to use the new pitch!! The financial support and ongoing advice provided by the Football Foundation has been invaluable in making this project possible, so thank you football foundation for helping us realise our goal.”
The total cost of the project will be £1.12m and the college has been successful in achieving the majority of the funding required but would still welcome any further donations or sponsorship of the project by local businesses and organisations. To offer support contact Andy Mason, Business Manager, Southam College on (01926) 812560.