£4 million plan to improve facilities in Blacon, Ellesmere Port and Helsby in next three years

The council has worked closely with Cheshire FA, the Football Foundation, partners and stakeholders to identify 24 priority projects within the borough.

These projects range from informal sites and grass pitches through to changing rooms and third generation (3G) artificial pitches.

This initiative is part of the council’s Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) – the council’s commitment to investing in grassroots provision to improve health and wellbeing for residents.

The first year of the programme will look to assist Frodsham Junior Football Club, based at Helsby High School, and to improve facilities for clubs at King George V playing fields, Blacon, Knights Grange in Winsford and Seacombe Drive playing fields in Ellesmere Port. The council is working closely with clubs and partners to identify external funding to support the projects.

The future plans of the programme are currently under development and will include improvements to pitches at many other sites across the Borough.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to contribute to such an important cause and help to meet our priorities around Health and Wellbeing by making sport accessible for all.

“The funding is part of an ambitious plan to increase the number of people accessing grassroots football. It will also support The FA’s aim to double the number of women and girls who play football. We hope that the funding will help to benefit all of the residents in our borough at some point.”

Joe Bell, 3G project lead at Frodsham Juniors Football Club, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working in collaboration with the council as part of such an important project.

“The potential plans to bring new and improved facilities to Helsby High School will benefit both Frodsham Juniors Football Club and the wider community.”