COMMUNITY | King George V Update

    Construction work at the site of King George V Sports Hub is nearing completion with the £1.8 million facility set to open in early 2022.

    The sports hub will feature a full size floodlit 3G pitch and clubhouse building, and become the permanent home for Chester FC Community Trust, representing an exciting new chapter for our club’s charity.

    Working in partnership with Cheshire West & Chester Council, the Community Trust has secured grants of £1 million from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, and £520,000 over five years from The Duke of Westminster’s Westminster Foundation, with additional funding from the local authority, Avenue Services and Ursula Keyes Trust.

    Work began over the summer and is expected to be completed in January with the sports hub opening to the public soon after.

    As well as becoming the home for the Community Trust’s charitable work, the facilities will be used for training and matches by several partner grassroots clubs and league, including Chester FC’s Academy and Women’s teams.

    Blacon councillors Carol Gahan, Shelia Little and Trish Richards recently visited the site alongside Community Trust CEO Jim Green and were delighted to see the progress made.

    “This is a fantastic project that will have huge benefits for Blacon and the wider community,” said the councillors.

    “It has been so pleasing to see how the partners have demonstrated determination in working together to overcome obstacles and deliver this wonderful new facility for the community.”

    Community Trust CEO Jim Green said: “It has been quite a journey and to see our vision becoming a reality is incredibly exciting.

    “We are hugely grateful for the support and commitment each partner has shown to the scheme and this will be a massive asset for our community and sport in Chester.”

    The second phase of the project will see the existing grass pitches at King George V Playing Fields benefit from a programme of improvements and refurbishment of the existing pavilion.

    The Community Trust is continuing to raise funds for phase two and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/kgvsportshub.