The Football
Foundation
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Rt Hon. David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and
Lord Commissioner for HM Treasury, said: “This new pitch has
created a top quality home for Danson Sports FC. Facilities
such as these are real assets and help various members of
the community benefit from grassroots sport, both socially
and physically.
“I’d like to thank the club for inviting me to be here today
to see the new pitch in action. This would not have been
possible without the grant from the Premier League & The FA
Facilities Fund – so a big well done for everyone connected
to this pitch for bringing it to fruition.”
Scott Minto, who played for Charlton Athletic FC, Chelsea FC
and West Ham United FC, said: “I know from experience how
important good facilities are to grassroots football and I’m
delighted to see this new pitch already in use. I’d like to thank
Danson Sports FC for inviting me to be here today.
“Grassroots players deserve top-quality surfaces to hone
their skills and this pitch is an excellent example of the work
done by the Football Foundation, which delivers projects like
this all over the country, thanks to money from the Premier
League & The FA Facilities Fund.”
Cllr. Craske, Cabinet Member for Community Safety,
Environment and Leisure, London Borough of Bexley, sai d: “This
new pitch has created a top quality home for Danson Sports
FC. Facilities such as these are real assets to our borough
and help various members of the community benefit from
grassroots sport, both socially and physically. I’d like to
congratulate everyone involved in making this happen.”
Steve Wicks, Chairman, Danson Sports FC, said: “Getting
the new all-weather pitch was a massive achievement for our
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club. We are extremely grateful for the support shown by the
Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, and the London FA,
since we started working on the grant bid in 2014.
“As well as being fantastic for hosting activities, the new
playing surface gives us the perfect platform to develop
participation opportunities for others in the community
who may not currently have access to suitable recreational
football. We are particularly looking forward to developing
opportunities for more girls and women, people with
disabilities and older people.”
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation,
said: “I am delighted that a grant from the Premier League
& The FA Facilities Fund has enabled Danson Sports FC to
upgrade to a floodlit all-weather pitch. This development will
provide a real boost to sport in the local area. A special thanks
must go to the Rt. Hon David Evennett MP for returning to
officially open the facility and also to Scott Minto.
“Since 2000, the Football Foundation has supported
grassroots projects worth more than £1.4bn, investing into
areas where the need is greatest and where it will have
the biggest impact in terms of getting more people playing
football and a wide range of other sports.
“With this funding, provided by the Premier League, The
FA and the Government, through Sport England, we are
helping to improve community sports facilities across the
country and thereby the playing experience of those who
take part. This latest project in Bexley is the latest addition
to the inventory of modern community sports sites we are
developing that cater for the needs of local people who want
to play sport purely for the love of it and to stay healthy.”