Work is now well under way on the major refurbishment, which will finally bring first class sports facilities to the people of Filwood in Bristol. This is an excellent example of how the NPFA can work with partners for the benefit of local communities.
There has been support for the programme not just from the NPFA but also from the Football Foundation who are contributing financially to the project, Bristol City Council, Somerset County FA, Gloucestershire County FA, the Learning Through Football Scheme, Bristol City's Football in the Community teams, Somerset Active Sports, and from local clubs, schools and colleges.
The new pavilion will be the centrepiece of the largest network of football pitches in South Bristol. Eventually, the list of improvements will include:
- 3 adult football pitches (70 x 100m)
- 2 adult football pitches (45m x 90m) for use by under 16s
- 2 mini-soccer pitches (36 x 45m) for 9-10 year olds
- 2 mini- soccer pitches (27 x 36m) for 7-8 year olds
- 1 training grid (50 x 50m)
and a new pavilion comprising:
- 8 new team changing rooms (designed for 16 people)
- 4 referees changing rooms (male and female)
- 1 education room (for about 25 people)
- 1 kitchen, an office, and a storage area.
For the NPFA and for local people, it is a triumphant end to a 10-year story which almost saw over 16 acres of public playing fields, which had served one the most deprived areas of the country for more than 50 years, vanishing forever.
FIT negotiated a deal which included £700,000 to improve the quality of the site, which was handed over to the NPFA and leased to the Filwood Playing Field Trust.