Norwich's new football development centre

Norfolk County Football Association has bought the leasehold of the Powerleague complex at Bowthorpe and plans to turn it into a football development centre offering top playing, coaching, educational and recreational facilities.

SAM EMANUEL
23 July 2009 13:00



Norwich is to get a pioneering new football development centre as part of plans to make the sport even more accessible to all.

Norfolk County Football Association has bought the leasehold of the Powerleague complex at Bowthorpe and plans to turn it into a football development centre offering top playing, coaching, educational and recreational facilities.

It is understood to have paid a six-figure sum for the 51-year leasehold of the site at Clover Hill Road, which is owned by Norwich City Council.

It plans to redevelop the site as a “hub” for both informal and organised football, under the name The FDC. Seven Powerleague employees have been kept on.

“This has to be the most exciting thing that has happened to grass roots football in Norfolk,” said Shaun Turner, chief executive of Norfolk County FA.

“This is a massive investment and a phenomenal opportunity to take football to another level in the county. I couldn't be more excited to be leading this project.”

Powerleague currently has 10 floodlit five-a-side pitches, with changing facilities, function room and a licensed bar.

“The pitches will be staying as they are in the short-term, and it will be business-as-usual for those people that participate here,” said Mr Turner.

“We will be developing the site to turn it into one of the most modern facilities in the county to be a hub for the local footballing community.”

The centre will remain open until the end of this year when it will close for a short time for improvement work, subject to planning approval, ready to be re-opened and officially re-launched in January.

Among the proposed improvements work is the replacement of the existing sand-based pitches with third-generation, rubber-crumb surfaces.

“We don't know of any other county FA that will have this sort of facility. It's a unique venture and we're at the forefront of it, which is very pleasing,” said Mr Turner.

“We will still be running small-sided leagues and the centre will be open at a very competitive rate for clubs to hire. It will be open for corporate events and for education, including for coaches and referees.

“What's fundamental to this whole project is that any money made from it is reinvested to ensure that collectively football in Norfolk can continue to run as it currently does.”

Last year the county FA spent £8,000 to provide Norfolk's 500 clubs with a first aid kit each, and hopes income from the FDC will support similar projects.

The acquisition of a development centre was identified in the county FA's four-year strategy, launched a year ago.

“This is one of our key targets in the strategy. We want to make football sustainable in Norfolk at grass-roots level. We want everyone who wants to play to be able to, regardless of ability,” said Mr Turner.

Martine Holden, sports development manager for Norwich City Council, said: “This is an excellent development opportunity for football in the city area and we look forward to seeing plans for the site unveiled.”

There are currently some 25,000 people in Norfolk involved in grass-roots football every weekend, including 20,000 players.

Norfolk County FA hopes to maintain the dwindling number of adult male participants at current levels, while boosting the number of women and youth players.

Are you behind pioneering plans in Norwich? Call Jon Welch on 01603 772476 or email jon.welch@archant.co.uk

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