More support for sport in Winchester with opening of new community pavilion
The new pavilion at the King George V Playing Fields in Winchester has officially opened.
The project, which has been funded by Winchester City Council and a grant from the Football Foundation, replaces two outdated pavilions with a single, larger accessible facility.
Community representatives gathered in the pavilion on Thursday 1 August as the Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith and former England women’s international footballer Morag Pearce opened the venue.
Morag Pearce competed in the 1984 European Competition for Women’s Football, where England lost against Sweden in the final. The former player has been officially recognised by The FA as one of the England national team's legacy players and was the second England women's player to be capped.
Also present at the opening were the facility’s two partner clubs, Winchester City Flyers FC and Compton and Chandler’s Ford Cricket Club.
The new pavilion offers six changing rooms and space for community use. Built with sustainability in mind, it has solar panels and a ‘green’ roof which will improve thermal insulation, store carbon, reduce energy consumption and reduce water runoff.
Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Engagement Cllr Kathleen Becker said:
“This spacious new facility has much to offer its partner clubs – including the Flyers, who are the largest all-female club in Hampshire - supporting them as they continue to expand the opportunities they provide for young people, women and people with disabilities.
“The pavilion will be of great benefit not only to the thousands of people who participate in sport in the Winchester district, but also as a community hub with space to accommodate social occasions and recreation.
“We look forward to celebrating the pavilion and all of its activities, including sporting successes, for many years to come”.
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and 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.
“Hampshire County FA has supported the project at every stage from project inception, including working with the key partner users and guiding the council through the process of applying for funding for a grant from the Football Foundation.
“We’re delighted that the local community in Winchester will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at King George V Playing Fields”.
Rob Spearing from Compton and Chandler’s Ford Cricket Club said:
“This fantastic development will provide enhanced sporting opportunities for more of the local community and offers the club the chance to expand and develop its cricket offering, especially in the high growth areas of junior, girls’, ladies’ and disability cricket.
“The club is delighted to return to the revamped KGV sports ground and to be partners in the steering group with Winchester City Flyers FC and Winchester City Council. We look forward to a highly successful and long-standing partnership.”
A spokesperson from Winchester City Flyers FC said:
“We are proud to have been involved from the outset on this exciting project and, as it nears completion, I look forward to having a fabulous fit-for-purpose facility from which we can continue to support the growth and enjoyment of our girls’ footballing activities at what is now truly the home of girls and women's football in Winchester.
“We are grateful to Winchester City Council and the Football Foundation for making this new pavilion a reality and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come.”