Football festival celebrates Lincoln sports centre’s new pitch

The first phase of a £2.5m refurbishment project for North Kesteven Sports Centre is complete, and a new 3G sports pitch was officially opened with a fun football festival.

As previously reported, North Kesteven District Council began work on the centre in North Hykeham in October 2013, after securing funding from the New Homes Bonus scheme.

Plans include external building works, changing room refurbishment, electrical fittings and structural alterations.

The first phase, consisting of state-of the-art community sports pitches was opened by Councillor Lance Pennell on September 6.

The old sand based pitch was replaced with a new modern 3G pitch, which will meet both Football Association and Hockey Association standards.

The pitch is a blend of grass-like fibres attached to a special backing with a mix rubber crumb brushed in.

To celebrate the completion of the first phase of the project, Junior football clubs from across Lincolnshire were invited by contractors Robert Woodhead Ltd and 1life, who manage the centre, to play the first tournament on the new 3G pitch.

Ten teams in total at Under 9 and Under 12 level played out a series of fun games with teams present from Greenbank FC, Nettleham FC, HBW United, Birchwood Boys and North Lindum Hawkes.

Whilst the Under 9 games were non competitive, the Under 12 teams contested in competitive mini-league, which saw Greenbank Buccaneers and North Lindum Hakews progress to the final.

Greenbank Buccaneers were the winners, and were presented with a trophy kindly donated by the contractors Robert Woodhead Limited.

All players who took part in the event were presented with a medal to remember to the day.

Teams from North Kesteven District Council, Scape (the organisation which the project was procured through), Woodhead and 1Life played in a 6 aside competition to raise funds for charity.

The chosen charity for the event was the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Appeal, to which a cheque of £1,000 was presented by Mat Hall from Robert Woodhead Limited.

Greenbank FC spokesperson Julian White said: “The new pitches would benefit so many children and this major investment by the council would benefit grass roots football for children as young four giving them the best facilities to develop their game.”