Work is underway to deliver a Football Foundation PlayZone in all five townships across the borough of Rochdale, thanks to a £1.35m grant from the Premier League, the FA, and the government’s Football Foundation, along with local partnership funding.
Football Foundation PlayZones are small-sided facilities designed with the local community in mind to host football alongside many other sports.
In July 2024, Rochdale was awarded a grant of just over £1m from the Football Foundation to cover 75% of costs to re-develop four existing small-sided football pitches, in a bid led by Rochdale AFC Community Trust and Rochdale Borough Council.
Council funding from Section 106 monies was approved, providing the additional 25% of the funds needed to get the project underway.
All PlayZones will feature the highest quality surface for football and other sports, as well as new/upgraded floodlighting, new fencing, spectator areas and pitch equipment in new, modern designs.
Every site will offer a balanced mix of coach-led sessions, community group bookings, and open slots for use by residents free of charge which can be booked online.
Rochdale AFC Community Trust, a charity with over 30 years of experience delivering community programmes, will take on the leases and maintain and manage all five sites. Any profits will be re-invested back into community sport.
The overall aim is to get more people playing sports, no matter their background, gender, age or ability in fun, recreational activities – improving physical and mental health as well as reducing anti-social behaviour.
Ryan Bradley, Community Director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust, said:
“When we first heard of this available funding stream from the Football Foundation we knew it would be a perfect fit for Rochdale.
“Together with Rochdale Borough Council and Your Trust, we formed a consortium to take us through a thorough consultation, bidding and design process that has taken close to three years to complete.
“With the help of many stakeholders, we feel we have a portfolio of facilities coming online that will be a huge boost to people across Rochdale”
Councillor Tricia Ayrton – Portfolio holder for climate change and environment, said: “The Football Foundation PlayZone project provides much-needed capital funds for our informal sports pitches.
“Sites have been identified through community consultation and the holistic approach from consortium members means that the design and operation of each site is tailored specifically to serve the needs of the community in that locality.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “When it comes to tackling the greatest inequalities to becoming active, the Football Foundation knows a ‘one-size fits all’ approach doesn’t work. That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our PlayZones programme.
“As with all PlayZones, the new facilities across Rochdale have been shaped by the local community who will be able to step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them.
“Thanks to the funding we receive from our partners – the Premier League, The FA and the Government, the Foundation will be delivering over 240 PlayZones like these across the country.”
Planning applications have been submitted and building work is expected to start in February 2025 on the first four sites – opening in the summer.
Rochdale AFC Community Trust is looking for residents and community groups close to each PlayZone to form a ‘Friends Of’ group that will help steer the future activities at each site.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email community@rochdaleafc.co.uk expressing your interest and stating which PlayZone site you wish to be involved with.
To find out more about the Football Foundation PlayZones programme, visit: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/playzones-programme
