Partington Sports Village presents cutting-edge ‘all-weather’ synthetic turf field at Broadoak School
A brand new artificial grass pitch (AGP) has been officially launched at Partington Sports Village in a grand opening ceremony. The event was graced by esteemed guests, including Cllr Dolores O’Sullivan, Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of the Council, Cllr Catherine Hynes, Deputy Leader of the Council, Andy Worthington, Chair of Trafford Leisure, John Lamb, Chair of Governors for the West Trafford Learning Partnership (WTLP), and John Knowles, the headteacher of Broadoak School.
For years, Partington Sports Village, which operates jointly under the Dean Trust and Trafford Leisure, has been providing valuable benefits to the community. The addition of this fully floodlit pitch now means that there are two full-size all weather pitches available, effectively doubling the capacity and allowing even more local players, teams, and clubs to take advantage of these world-class facilities.
The Dean Trust collaborated with partners such as Trafford Leisure, Trafford Council, the County FA’s for Cheshire and Manchester, and the Football Foundation to create a viable plan and secure funding for the redevelopment. After a thorough evaluation, the Football Foundation approved a grant of £801,000. In addition, the Trust contributed capital funds, and Trafford Council provided £200,000, bringing the overall project value to approximately £1.05 million.
This investment by the Council is part of their successful bid for £18.3 million of Government Levelling Up funding. It aligns with Trafford Council’s sport and physical activity strategy, Trafford Moving, and will facilitate a multi-million pound refurbishment of Partington Sports Village. The refurbishment plans include improvements to the BMX track and associated facilities, a complete renovation of the Cross Lane Park changing rooms, and the creation of a trim trail around the park to enhance accessibility and support walking and running in the area.
CEO of Trafford Leisure, Jo Cherrett, expressed delight at the opening of the highly anticipated new pitch, which solidifies Partington Sports Village as a center of excellence for sports in Greater Manchester. The increased capacity will benefit numerous grassroots teams and groups. Cherrett also highlighted the rise in interest from girls and women wanting to play football, with Partington Sports Village already serving as a home to a dedicated girls and women’s league. Building on the legacy of the Women’s European Championships hosted in Trafford, the new pitch and refurbished changing rooms on Cross Lane Park aim to meet the growing demand for women’s football.
Trafford Council remains committed to improving the health and fitness of residents while addressing health inequalities and the climate crisis. Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, emphasized the transformation of Partington Sports Village into a state-of-the-art facility. He expressed the council’s dedication to providing residents with access to outstanding sporting amenities, which will nurture the talents of aspiring young male and female football stars and serve the community for generations to come.
Taun Kapur, CBE, Chief Executive of the Dean Trust, expressed the Trust’s long-standing commitment to the Partington community and its dedication to providing quality education. Kapur highlighted how this new facility will enhance opportunities not only for the wider school community but also for community groups and football teams in the South Trafford area. The Trust takes pride in facilitating the majority of usage for women and girls, contributing to the exciting growth of football in the region. Kapur extended gratitude to all the partners involved in making this dream a reality.
