New grass pitches complete Stoneham Lane Football Complex
Local footballers are now able to enjoy even more high-class football facilities with the recent opening of the grass football pitches at the £9m Stoneham Lane Football Complex - that is now complete.
The first games have taken place on the new large grass football plateau that provides a number of natural turf pitches that have been constructed to Sport England performance quality criteria. The plateau has an excellent drainage system combined with an ongoing maintenance programme that will help the pitches withstand the wet winters and reduce the number of games cancelled due to waterlogged pitches.
The large grass plateau provides a flexible approach to the number and size of pitches that can be changed to meet changes in local football demand. The site currently has a full size adult 11v11 pitch a junior 11v11 pitch together with two junior 9v9 pitches. These pitches complement the other three full size 3G pitches at the complex.
Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee Cllr Tina Campbell said, “I am pleased that the opening of the new grass pitches completes this fantastic complex that is being enjoyed by thousands of local footballers each week. It provides the opportunity for children and adults of all ages and abilities to play football, become more active and enjoy high quality facilities. This is another great example of our commitment to providing excellent community sporting facilities for local people to enjoy.” She added, “I now hope that improved crossing facilities on Stoneham Lane will be provided for users of the facility by Highways England and Hampshire County Council.”
Chief Executive of Hampshire FA, Neil Cassar said, “We are delighted with the quality of the new grass pitches at Stoneham Lane Football Complex and we are now able to offer a complete football experience to our valued users and participants. The pitches were first used last weekend and the feedback from teams has been excellent. We are fortunate and grateful to have access to one of the leading football hub sites in the country for generations to come. We thank the funding partners for this much needed investment into football facilities within the Eastleigh Borough.”
Stoneham Lane Football Complex was made possible thanks to grant funding from the Football Foundation, Sport England and the Premier League, together with significant funding from Eastleigh Borough Council. It is now one of the biggest football hubs in the country, providing high quality facilities for local clubs and residents to enjoy.
Find out more about Stoneham Lane Football Complex