A ground breaking ceremony has marked the official start of the £11.9m Football Hub project on Derby Racecourse.
Developers Alliance Leisure were joined by representatives from Derby City Council, the FootballF oundation, main contractors Universal Group and other key stakeholders at a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of the Football Hub development on Derby Racecourse.
The Football Hub will regenerate the Racecourse, providing a state-of-the-art community building and three new full-size 3G football turf pitches (FTPs) on the site, as well as the refurbishment of the existing FTP. The new changing pavilion will include a community café and meeting space. In addition to the enhanced pitch provision, the Hub development will include increased parking spaces and improved entry and exit to the site.
The project has received joint funding from Derby City Council and the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
The goal is for the Football Hub to provide high-quality, sustainable facilities allowing all-yearround pitch use, ensuring a long-term future for grassroots football.
Construction work will start in April 2023, and is due to finish in early 2024.
Following completion, the facilities will be managed on behalf of Derby City Council by the National Football Trust and operated by Leisure United.
Commenting on the start of construction work on The Football Hub, Martin Davies representing Universal Civils & Build, said:
All of the team here at Universal Civils and Build are proud to be working alongside our project partners Alliance Leisure on this prestigious project. We have been invested in this exciting scheme for the past 2 years and cannot wait to break ground and be an integral part of the development of this facility that will serve the public of Derby for years to come.
Will Gardner, Alliance Leisure Business Development Manager, said:
Breaking ground events are a key milestone for us as all the hard work that has gone into the project finally starts to become a reality. We’re really looking forward to seeing the facilities take shape.
Martin Glenn, Chair of the Football Foundation, said:
The new facilities here at the Racecourse will not only provide a boost to sport in Derby, but also a space for the local community to come together, as well as opportunities for jobs during the construction and beyond.
Thanks to the investment we receive from our funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation is working to deliver more Hubs like this across the country so that everyone can have access to great places to play.
A spokesperson for Derby City Council said:
We’re thrilled to see the kick-off of this project that will provide an excellent grassroots football facility, with improved access and an engaging community hub for the local residents to enjoy. We are delighted to be part of this partnership that has supported funding for this project and enabling the development of a facility that will support health and wellbeing for the city.
Below are artist impressions of the new Football Hub building.
