Dean Wilkins joined players Paul Reid and Adam Hinshelwood for the official opening of new sports facilities at the Crew Club in East Brighton yestreday on behalf of Barclays Spaces for Sports.
Following a £500,000 cash injection from Barclays and support from the Football Foundation, the site will benefit from refurbishment of an existing Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) with floodlighting and fencing, a purpose built changing pavilion and reinstatement of two full-size grass football pitches.
Also at the event was former England cricketer Alec Stewart OBE, who joined local youngsters taking part in coaching sessions in football, basketball, short tennis and kwik cricket.
With backing and support from Albion and the club's community scheme the site is part of a £30million investment from the Barclays Spaces for Sports initiative to create sustainable sports facilities across the UK. The project will receive a further £45,000 from Barclays to ensure the sustainability of the site plus kit and equipment worth £5,000.
Since the announcement of the scheme in September 2004, Barclays Spaces for Sports has opened more than 160 sites and awarded 3,600 coaching packs to local communities up and down the country, giving over 440,000 disadvantaged people the opportunity to benefit from sport.
Wilkins said, "I think it's great that Barclays Spaces for Sports is investing in the site in East Brighton. Lots of people will now have the opportunity to play sport and keep fit by using new, improved facilities close to home."
Darren Teague, of Albion in the Community, added."The development of the Crew Club site is a real boost to people of all ages in East Brighton, given the dearth of good quality sports facilities in the area. The involvement of the Crew Club at all stages of the project has given a sense of community ownership, which is vital to its success and in bringing different parts of the community closer together."
Barclays Spaces for Sports is a partnership between Barclays, the Football Foundation and Groundwork, will create further sports sites for communities across the UK.
