New 3G pitch Opens At The Cedars Academy In Birstall

Cedars Academy opens a new 3G pitch in Birstall with Football Foundation investment, enhancing community football facilities.

Leicester City and Republic of Ireland midfielder Kasey McAteer officially opened a new 3G sports pitch at The Cedars Academy in Birstall last year.

The opening event took place on Thursday, 17th October 2024, and involved various stakeholders, including pupils, staff, governors at Cedars, players from partner football clubs (Birstall United Juniors, Mountsorrel Juniors, and East Goscote United), and local councillors. Kasey cut the ribbon to formally open the fantastic new sports facility, which had been 15 years in the making.

Work on the pitch, funded by a grant secured from the Premier League, the Football Association (FA), and the Government via the Football Foundation, began in March 2024 and was completed in late July.

Measuring 100m x 64m, the facility can be used as one full-sized pitch, two seven-a-side pitches, or four five-a-side pitches. While primarily designed for football, it can also accommodate rugby, fitness sessions, frisbee, and handball.

The state-of-the-art pitch represents a fantastic resource for The Cedars Academy, and – during the current academic year – pupils have already enjoyed using it in PE lessons and during extracurricular activities.

The facility is also available to the local community, with designated booking slots from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on weekends.

Shaun Waite, Head of Football Development and Facilities of the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, said: “We congratulate Cedars Academy on its successful application to the Football Foundation to develop a new 3G pitch for the local football community. We know this has taken some time to get over the line, but it is great news for our football community that it has now officially opened.

"This site was one of many strategic priority sites outlined within the Local Football Facility Plan for Charnwood, so we are delighted to see it delivered and benefitting the local football community.”

Associate Principal of The Cedars Academy, James Rolfe, added: “We are incredibly proud to see the completion of this long-awaited 3G pitch, which represents a huge step forward for both The Cedars Academy and our wider community.

“This facility is not only a fantastic asset for our students, enriching their PE and extracurricular experiences, but it also provides a vital resource for local sports teams and residents. It is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for our students.”

Oliver Willis, Head of Estates for Lionheart Educational Trust, of which Cedars are a part, said: “We're incredibly proud to see this project come to life and look forward to the positive impact it will have on Birstall and beyond.

"We are immensely grateful to the Premier League, The FA and Government via the Football Foundation, Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council, and the Palmer-Tomkinson Trust for their generous support. Their contributions have made this fantastic facility possible.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, the FA and the Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“We’re delighted that the local community in Birstall will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at the Cedars Academy.”