Local people from the Preston Road area in Hull will celebrate the opening of a new £606,564 multi-use games area (MUGA) and changing facility this weekend.

The official opening of Flinton Fields will take place as part of Flinton Festival on Saturday 15 August.

The project was funded with the help of a £308,564 grant from the Football Foundation. With further funding coming from Hull City Council and Preston Road New Deal for Communities.

The facility comprises a 37m x 43m floodlit, fenced tarmac-surfaced MUGA. It will provide a modern, safe environment for local residents to take part in sport and active recreational opportunities. The playing field has also been reconfigured to provide three senior, two junior and two mini-soccer grass football pitches. The dilapidated temporary changing rooms that were at the site previously have been demolished and replaced by a brand new changing room complex, providing four team and two referees' changing rooms.

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The main aim of the project has been to provide better football opportunities for people of all sectors of the community. This objective will be achieved through a comprehensive football development plan (FDP) that has been drawn up in partnership with the Football Foundation and the East Riding County FA. The FDP will engage a range of groups within the local community, including juniors, disabled footballers, as well as the development of women & girls football.

Participants will be able to access a whole spectrum of provision, from new junior and mini-soccer pitches, to the already existing adult pitches. Access to kick-around sessions, training courses and school holiday programmes will also be available. The Flinton Fields facilities are set to become the centre-point for major football development within the Preston Road area and surrounding wards of the city.

(CD/KMcA)