Everett Rovers Football Club have been awarded £20,000 funding from the council’s Neighbourhood Grant to contribute to the build of a new £1million full-size, floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch...
Working in partnership with the Football Association (FA) and Football Foundation, who are also funding the project, it will create an all-weather football pitch at Leggatts Playing Fields that can be used for match play and training by local clubs, community groups, and organizations.
The pitch will be 106m x 70m (112m x 76m site footprint) and will include a 4.5m high ball stop fencing and entrance gates to the pitch perimeter, a hard standing area for portable goal storage, pedestrian circulation, DDA access, and vehicle maintenance and emergency access. The site will also feature an LED floodlight system, maintenance equipment, and improved LED lighting in the existing car park.
Everett Rovers is keen to ensure that the new facilities are used to their fullest potential, inspiring more people to play football, connecting people from a range of backgrounds regardless of gender, age, ability, and ethnicity, supporting a wide range of interests and abilities - from beginner to intermediate, from grassroots participation to enabling competitive pathways.
The club will also connect local communities, address barriers, build community cohesion and promote health and well-being, and have already made links with education providers and faith groups to support this.
Andy Tyers, Chairman of Everett Rovers Football Club with Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor by the clubhouse which also has new solar panels, which were supported by the council
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Sport and physical activity play a crucial role in bringing local people together, countering inequality, creating a caring environment, and can lead to an improved quality of life for local residents. This new facility will be a valuable addition to the community and will provide a much-needed resource for local residents and organisations. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have.”
Club Treasurer, Wayne Frost, said: “The new 3G pitch will take our club to the next level, guaranteeing football 12 months a year once complete. During the winter, we currently have to play at separate venues and we have games called off due to the weather.
“Everett Rovers Football Club has around 30 teams including men’s, women’s and youth, and we recognise the important role sport and physical activity play in the community. This new facility will open up the club to the even wider community groups, and raise the profile of sport and physical activity in town.”
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant will be in open for applications again in summer 2023, however, you can email NCIL@watford.gov.uk if you want to find out more in advance. To read more about the projects, please visit watfordneighbourhoodgrant.commonplace.is.
