Work starts on multi-million-pound football hub

A ground-breaking ceremony has taken place to mark the official start of work on a new £11.9 million Football Hub, part-funded by Derby City Council.

Developers Alliance Leisure were joined by representatives from the city council, the Football Foundation, main contractors Universal Group and other key stakeholders at the ceremony at Derby Racecourse.

The Football Hub will regenerate the racecourse, providing a state-of-the-art community building and three new full-size 3G football turf pitches  on the site, as well as the refurbishment of an existing pitch.

The new changing pavilion will include a community café and meeting space.

In addition to the enhanced pitch provision, the hub development will include increased parking spaces and improved entry and exit to the site.

The project has received joint funding from the city council and the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The aim is for the Football Hub to provide high-quality, sustainable facilities allowing all-year-round pitch use, ensuring a long-term future for grassroots football.

Construction work will start next month and is due to finish in early 2024.

Following completion, the facilities will be managed on behalf of the city council by the National Football Trust and operated by Leisure United.

Martin Glenn, chair of the Football Foundation, said: “The new facilities at the racecourse will not only provide a boost to sport in Derby, but also a space for the local community to come together, as well as opportunities for jobs during the construction and beyond.”

Martin Davies, representing Universal Civils & Build, said: “We are proud to be working alongside our project partners Alliance Leisure on this prestigious project.

“We have been invested in this exciting scheme for the past two years and cannot wait to break ground and be an integral part of the development of this facility that will serve the public of Derby for years to come.”

Will Gardner, Alliance Leisure business development manager, said: “Breaking ground events are a key milestone for us as all the hard work that has gone into the project finally starts to become a reality. We’re really looking forward to seeing the facilities take shape.”