Coventry City Council has partnered with Coundon Court Football Club to secure its future at Coundon Hall Park, establishing the site as the long-term home of the local club.
After being accepted onto the Football Foundation’s Home Advantage Programme, the club is set to take on a 25-year lease of the pitches at Coundon Hall Park.
The Football Foundation’s Home Advantage Programme is supported by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation. It aims to support grassroots clubs and organisations across the country to take on long-term leases or licences of the sites they play at.
The club will also have the opportunity to apply for up to £250,000 in grant funding from the Foundation to improve the facilities at Coundon Hall Park. This could include security fencing, storage units, grounds maintenance machinery and catering cabins.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with Coundon Court Football Club to secure their future at Coundon Hall Park.
“Supporting local sports clubs which give members of our community the opportunity to get out, get active and take part in something they enjoy is really important.
“This support from the Football Foundation and the Home Advantage Programme will make a real impact and firmly cement the club’s future. In addition, it will show how this could be a model across the city of best practice.”
Coundon Court FC is a 3-star England Football-accredited club with over 30 teams, and disability and community programmes. Named 'Club of the Year' by Birmingham County FA, it’s proudly rooted in the local community.
Barry Morris, Club Secretary at Coundon Court Football Club, added: “We see this as a huge opportunity for our club to have a home of its own, enabling us to offer more football provision within the local community.
“After collecting the ‘Club of the Year’ accolade from Birmingham FA for the second time in 4 years, we already have a fantastic foundation to work from and will continue to progress.
“Thanks to Coventry City Council and the Football Foundation for their support and confidence in working with our club on this exciting and innovative project.”
The planned Coundon Cycleway has also been designed to accommodate the improvements at the park.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “We have planned the route of the Cycleway to allow for a full range of activities in the park – this includes allowing room for the exciting new multi-use games area and future football pitches – spaces where local young people can come together, be active, and have fun.
“The Coundon Cycleway scheme, funded by Active Travel England, will create a new cycleway through the park by utilising existing paths and well-trodden pedestrian routes. The project will also enhance the area with new lighting, benches, and tree planting. Additional improvements include the installation of extra bins and CCTV in both car parks, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable environment for all visitors.”
Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to unlock the power of pitches for more grassroots clubs and enable them to take pride in the place they call home.
“We know that local authorities often lack the resources to maintain their grass pitches to a high standard, and yet the process of transferring management is often seen as complicated, expensive and therefore unattractive.
“Through our Home Advantage Programme, the Foundation plans to provide the support and funding needed to transfer over 1,750 grass football pitches like the ones at Coundon Hall Park from local authorities to grassroots clubs and organisations across the country.
“As well as a higher chance of success on the pitch, home grounds provide a space for people to come together through sport and help strengthen communities based on a shared sense of belonging.”
To find out more about the programme visit the Football Foundation’s website.
Image caption: Ant Hasker - Facilities and Investment Lead, Birmingham County FA, Eddie Gormley - Coundon Court FC Club Chairman, Peter Howarth - Coundon Court FC Volunteer, Barry Morris - Coundon Court FC Secretary, Lee Garratt - Coundon Court FC Club Manager Coordinator, Councillor Patricia Hetherton - Cabinet Member for City Services and Tim Wetherhill - Coventry City Council Parks Manager