Accrington Stanley finish building new 3G football pitch at Stanley Sports Hub

East Lancashire Reporter Sam Quine, delivers an update from Accrington after a new 3G football pitch was built by the club's Community Trust.

Transcript

00:00Hi, my name is Sam Quine, East Lancashire Reporter for the Lancashire Post, and I'm

00:10here in Accrington for the opening of a new 3G Fiverside football pitch. The pitch, located

00:19at Stanley Sports Hub, has been opened by the Accrington Stanley Community Trust and

00:25the Skybet EFL Building Foundations Fund. The 3G pitch will be available for locals

00:32to book and will be used by over 40,000 people annually, including veterans, over-50s and

00:39an adult disability team. Accrington Stanley has become the first EFL club to net a maximum

00:46£100,000 grant from the Skybet EFL Building Foundations Fund. In the latest round of funding,

00:55awards to boost football community projects across England and Wales. The Lancashire club,

01:03with traditions dating back nearly 140 years, is one of seven clubs to receive much-needed

01:08cash in the second round of awards since the Skybet EFL Building Foundations Fund was launched

01:14last season. Talksport Breakfast Show host and Skybet ambassador Geoff Stelling was one

01:21of the panellists who judged winning bids. He said, there's no doubt that this round

01:26of funding will play a crucial role in keeping communities across England and Wales active

01:32for years to come. Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt said, community is key for every

01:40football club and this £100,000 grant from Skybet is absolutely massive for the Highamburn

01:46community. The new 3G pitch will mean more groups of every age and ability can use the

01:53excellent facilities that the Accrington Stanley Community Trust provides. The facilities here

02:01at Stanley Sports Hub will provide the local community with a great place to play and watch

02:06sport inclusive for everyone. During today's opening day, several first team players for

02:12Accrington Stanley as well as manager John Doolan have been in attendance and are impressed with the

02:17facilities that have been constructed. Also in attendance today is Accrington Stanley owner

02:23Andy Holt. Martin Fearon, the chief executive of Accrington Stanley Community Trust and the

02:30several participants from the over 50s and disability teams.