A NEW £370,000 floodlit, all-weather pitch will be officially opened on Friday when MP Andy Burnham's Celebrity Xl takes on a Westleigh High School XI.
Over 10 years ago Mr Burnham wrote a policy document to Tony Blair suggesting schools could host community sports facilities for the benefit of amateur clubs, schools and the young people in the area. Now after long, complex bids by the school to the New Opportunities Fund for PE-Sport, the new pitch at Westleigh High is open.
The response from local amateur clubs has been staggering with most of the week night slots being filled and Eastleigh Junior FC decided to move and use the school as its base.
School head John Pout said: "It would be a shame if this excellent facility was only used by Westleigh pupils. This pitch will be fully used from 8am to 10pm every day including weekends.
"All our primary partner schools, plus local amateur clubs, will use it. In addition, Everton Football Club, Nike Sports and other professional groups have booked it. Also, we will be running a number of "friendly" leagues if groups of mates want to put a team together they will be welcome to come down."
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