Radcliffe’s game-changing all-weather 3G pitch

The £2.4m ‘best of class’ 3G football pitch at Redbank Playing Fields in Radcliffe has been completed over the winter - and construction of a new changing pavilion and club room, plus a new 85-place car park, will be finished by July.

The new facilities have been funded with £1.8 million from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, plus a further £600,000 from Bury Council.

The 3G pitch at Radcliffe replaces some of the traditional grassed pitches which can be prone to waterlogging and a cause of abandoned matches.

The on-site parking includes 78 standard car spaces, 4 electric vehicle spaces and 12 cycle spaces to support active travel.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “The surface of a 3G provides a durable FIFA-standard quality pitch that facilitates safe, intensive, year-round play allowing games to continue in all kinds of weather. This fantastic new facility will give a huge boost to grassroots sport in Radcliffe and unlock, for people of all ages, football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.”

Around 77 teams will use Radcliffe 3G which will be operated by Radcliffe Football Foundation, a partnership between Radcliffe Juniors and Radcliffe FC.

Paul Hilton at Radcliffe Football Foundation said: “The Redbank facility is truly transformative for the town and the wider community, opening up significant opportunities to promote sport, health and wellbeing through football and other initiatives. This state-of-the-art surface and excellent pavilion is a boost to the area and will be a huge asset for the generations to come.

“The support received from Bury Council and the funding bodies has been fantastic; they have had real focus on driving this development which will be a leap forward in facility provision not only for our football clubs and Foundation but the wider community and another example of the regeneration projects ongoing in Radcliffe.”

Initially, while construction of the pavilion and car park is still ongoing, the facility will be used solely by the club for practice sessions and to catch up on missed matches. The site will be open to other users later this year and an official opening event will be held ahead of the next football season.

Other local state-of-the-art 3G facilities are at Goshen Playing Fields in Bury and the council is currently finalising a funding bid for a further facility at Top Park in Ramsbottom.

ENDS

Press release issued: 15 March 2024.

Picture attached (from left):Paul Hilton (Radcliffe Football Foundation), Councillor Alan Quinn (Bury Council cabinet member), Lee Chapman (Radcliffe Football Foundation).

Notes for editors:

About the Football Foundation

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.

The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring everyone has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested more than £1 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,100 3G football turf pitches, 12,000 grass pitches and 1,400 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.3 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2 billion investment in grassroots football so far.

In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.

Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.