Liverpool duo help launch new 3G pitch for local school
Liverpool defender Kolo Toure and Ladies left-back Alex Greenwood joined Everton legend Graeme Sharp to officially open Broadgreen International School's new £339,093 3G artificial grass pitch.
The project was made possible thanks to a £269,093 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which provides funds towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities and is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity.
Toure and Greenwood were on hand, alongside Sharp and a number of local dignitaries from the council and wider school community, to officially cut the ribbon – as well as sign autographs and offer advice to budding young footballers.
Everton in the Community coaches ran a training session on the pitch, with students from Liverpool FC Foundation College and Broadgreen Sixth Form taking part in a series of drills and matches.
Broadgreen is a resourced school for the profoundly deaf, partially sighted and pupils with special needs, and the new state-of-the-art facility offers it and other local specialist schools previously unavailable access for play and coaching.
Toure said: “I was delighted to open the new 3G pitch at Broadgreen International School. The pitch will make a real difference to the experience of the students and grassroots clubs who use it.
“It was great to see the Liverpool FC Foundation College players in action against Broadgreen Sixth Form – you can see how much the new facility means to them.
“The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, through the Football Foundation, are improving the ways professional clubs like Liverpool can work with the local community through improving the facilities at grassroots level.”
Greenwood said: “This pitch is an absolutely fantastic facility and it was a real privilege for me to officially open it with Kolo.
“This proves just how important these pitches are, it was full of youngsters from the school and the Liverpool FC Foundation College enjoying their football.
“The pitch will improve the experience of playing football for this community and the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, through the Football Foundation, deserve real credit for making it a reality.”
Sally Beevers, headteacher of Broadgreen International School, added: “On behalf of the school staff, pupils, parents, carers and governors, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Kolo Toure, Alex Greenwood and Graeme Sharp for officially opening our new pitch and to our distinguished guests for being part of this occasion.
“We would also like to thank the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund and the Football Foundation for their support with the funding of the pitch, which is a wonderful facility for our school and local community which will support and enhance the development of football in our local area and strengthen our exciting partnerships with Everton in the Community and the Liverpool FC Foundation with ongoing projects to support our young people and community.”
Click here to find out more about Broadgreen International School.
Click here for more information on The Football Foundation.