Rodborough 3G football pitch 'will help unite the community'

A fundraising drive to build a 3G football pitch at Rodborough School to enable youngsters to play all year round could get a boost if a funding application is successful.

The Rodborough Community Football Pitch would be used by several clubs as well as the school. Members of Elstead Sharks, Milford Pumas, Crawley Town Foundation and Surrey FA Disability would benefit from the new pitches.

Nick Irwin from The Sustainable Schools Project told Godalming Nub News: "This project will have a particular focus on the development of female football and also integration of mildly autistic footballers into mainstream football sessions."

Supporters are on their way to raising the £800,000 cost of the pitch, and are hoping that a bid for £150,000 from Your Fund Surrey will be successful. That in turn could lead to a cash injection from the Football Foundation which would allow work to start.

Studies carried out for the Waverley Playing Pitch Strategy and the FA's Local Football Facilities Plan have shown a 'significant lack' of 3G pitches in the area. Both reports identified Rodborough School as a good location for the new pitch.

At present Rodborough School and Milford Pumas share the existing grass pitches at the school, and the playing surfaces have been damaged by over-use. Supporters say the new floodlit 3G pitch will be available all year round and the weather-proof 3G surface means games will no longer have to be cancelled.

The floodlights will allow the pitch to be used for midweek training by community clubs including Elstead Sharks and Milford Pumas, who are currently having to travel outside the borough or use substandard facilities for training sessions.

Rodborough Headmaster Matthew Armstrong-Harris said: "I have been headteacher at Rodborough for five years and associated with the school for 15.

"I understand the important role that the school and the school site plays within our community. Our facilities are available throughout the year, involving a range of local clubs and organisations, who use the site in the evenings, at weekends and throughout school holidays. Our plans for a 3G pitch on site have been developed in partnership with a number of these clubs and will support their community programmes well into the future.

"The construction of the 'Rodborough Community Football Pitch' will not only address an identified lack of facilities in the area, it will also address issues of diversity and inclusion in sport. We have chosen project partners with a specific focus on making sport accessible to the under-represented and disadvantaged members of our school and community.

"We strongly believe that delivering a project of this nature will help build a stronger, healthier community for the future and be a vital element in the Covid recovery of our community. Physical activity, especially team sports, are about so much more than the physical benefits, they provide both academic and social benefits and have the ability to unite communities."

To show your support for the project click here to go to the Your Fund Surrey website and then click on 'Agree'.