Major £4m investment for ageing Exeter football hub unanimously approved

Footballers from eight to 85 will benefit from a £4 million project to transform an ageing and run-down Exeter sports facility.

The entire city council voted unanimously to back the King George V Playing Fields project after hearing how it would benefit women and girls, young players and older walking football enthusiasts.

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Cllr Duncan Wood (Lab, Pinhoe) described it as a “win-win-win” for the city.

The Exeter City Community Trust, which is the partner charity of Exeter City FC, is leading the work at the 40-acre playing fields off Topsham Road. 

The charity has secured almost £2 million from the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation towards the ambitious project.

Added to this will be almost £465,000 of Section 106 money, handed over by developers to be spent on community facilities in areas where they are building homes.

The council’s director for place, Ian Collinson, said it was one of Exeter’s most prestigious sports hubs, but it was ageing and its grass pitches were often unplayable due to poor drainage and wear and tear.

The project will champion facilities for football for women and girls, “live and move” activities and programmes to tackle mental health issues through football. 

The fields are also the home of Exeter’s successful Central FC, which is one of Devon’s largest grassroots football clubs.

The club lists nearly 30 teams on its website, ranging from under-eights to adult men’s and women’s teams.

Full planning permission has already been granted for the project, and councillors had to decide on committing the Section 106 money before an April deadline.

Cllr Bob Foale (Lab, Alphington), who chairs the Exeter City Walking Football Club, said the facilities could not come soon enough for the club’s 110 members, aged from 50 to 85, while Cllr Mathew Williams (Lab, Topsham) said it was a prime example of a local authority working with partners to deliver a project.

Cllr Rob Harding (Lab, Alphington) said: “Twenty years ago women’s football was hardly a thing, but now it’s massive. This provides an excellent facility for it.”

Council leader Phil Bialyk (Lab, Exwick) said he was delighted that councillors of all parties had supported the project, adding: “Every councillor should be proud of what we are doing here, working with the community to bring this forward.”

Phase one of the work includes two new Football Foundation PlayZones, a 3G pitch and refurbishment of the existing pavilion to include accessible changing rooms and community-use rooms.

The second phase is due to include padel courts, an extension to the existing pavilion to incorporate a community café and social space, woodland trails and walkways, and further improvements to grass pitches.

As part of the scheme, 65 new trees will be planted in partnership with the council to form a community orchard.