Games dream is kicked into life
Last updated 15:54, Thursday, 02 October 2008
Stocksfield's Mr Youth Football, Ivor Gray, has kicked off an exciting new sporting venture in the village.
The man who was made an MBE last year for his dedication in running youth sides in the village for decades was the obvious choice to cut the ribbon to relaunch the village’s vastly improved and extended multi-use games area.
And he brought with him one of his own success stories, Fraser Forster, who has moved up from one of Ivor’s youth teams to become Newcastle United’s reserve goalkeeper.
For years, replacing the all-weather multi-use games area on the village’s sports field, next to the cricket club, has been a high priority.
The 30-year-old tarmac surface had become slippery, and began crumbling, so using the ageing facility became dangerous.
Thanks to some clever positioning, the new £165,000 facility can accommodate a six-a-side game of football instead of just a five-a-side.
The area has also been fitted with the latest Astroturf and is entirely floodlit.
There was even room to allow for a few more parking spaces to be provided in the cricket club car park.
Work began late last year and was completed in May, providing an all-weather space for the active local football, rugby and cricket teams to play – as well as providing a potential new venue for children’s parties.
At the official opening, following 90 minutes of non-stop football playing by local teams, including the under-9s, under-10s and ladies’ footballers, rugby players and cricketers, vice-chairman of Broomley and Stocksfield Parish Council, Coun. Mrs Julia Sayce, thanked the funders who had contributed to the project.
Coun. Sayce, who chaired the development group made up of volunteer sports coaches past and present, singled out the Football Foundation, the EUFA Jubilee programme, and the SITA Trust for their help with funding.
Locally, major support for the project has also been received in the form of £14,000 from Tynedale Council and £19,000 from Broomley and Stocksfield Parish Council, as well as substantial donations from Tynedale Lions and Stocksfield Cricket Club.
Coun. Sayce paid tribute to the large amount of hard work done by Chris Catnach, one of the lead coaches, Nick Jones, who had designed the new and improved facility, and electrical expert Gordon McArthur, whose efforts in managing the project and individual expertise had made it possible.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Fraser Forster presented Coun. Sayce with a shirt signed by all five Newcastle United goalkeepers, which will be displayed in the cricket club.
Coun Sayce said: “We hope that this excellent facility will provide many years of use and enjoyment for everyone in Stocksfield.
“We are very grateful to all those who have made the completion of this project possible, and to those who have given generously to the funding of it.”
Enquiries about booking the floodlit games area can be made at the cricket club or by ringing Chris Catnach (01661) 842836.
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