official opening

Holsworthy Open Their New Sports Pavilion

Holsworthy town will look slightly different when you pass a certain area in the coming weeks or months.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities in Devon, Holsworthy have opened their brand new sports pavilion centre at Stanhope Park, to reinvigorate a new generation of sports lovers in the town.

On Sunday 15th April at around 11:30am, Plymouth Argyle defender Gary Sawyer, plus MP for Torridge & West Devon Geoffrey Cox, officially opened Holsworthy Town Council’s new sports pavilion on Stanhope Close.

ribbon cut

Thanks to the Premier League, Football Foundation and The FA Facilities Fund, a grant of £99,000 was enough to ensure the new facilities in Holsworthy could help generate the sports pavilion.

On top of the grant, Sport England provided Holsworthy Council with £75,000 to help with the costs of building the facility.

Devon FA plan to use the new sports pavilion for courses and other activities over the years, whilst Holsworthy FC and Holsworthy Youth FC can now have a place they call home with all home matches.

Adam Chidley, Holsworthy Youth FC Chairman, is happy to know their club have a home for many years; “For almost 30 years, Stanhope Park in Holsworthy has hosted grassroots football without any meaningful facilities. 

“Thanks to the Premier League and FA Facilities fund we will now be able offer match day facilities for all our players, coaches and officials and guests from opposition clubs, host community football events to help increase participation and help other local sporting organisations utilising Stanhope Park by giving them the opportunity to use the new building. 

opening crowd

“We would like to thank Chris French, County Development Manager at Devon FA, who has supported this project from the very early stages and has given guidance throughout, and to Gary Sawyer, Captain of Plymouth Argyle, for his attendance at the opening. 

“Gary played for many years in North Devon youth football and hopefully his appearance here today will help to inspire the next generation of young players beginning their journey through grassroots football.”

Tom Sampson, FA Representative for the County and West Area Representative, said; “It is fantastic news that Holsworthy Youth Football are soon to start using the new Sports Pavilion in Stanhope Park in Holsworthy. 

tom sampson

“The renovation and improvement of this 100 year old Pavilion into a modern sports and leisure facility was made possible in part by grants by the Football Foundation, Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund.

“I’m sure this will help to grow the game both now, and for developing future participants in the community.”

The Mayor of Holsworthy Councillor, Jon Hutchings, is delighted that the new Sports Pavilion in Stanhope Park is now completed and ready for use; “This much needed facility for Holsworthy replaces the old Pavilion that was over 100 years old and was no longer fit for purpose. 

“The new Pavilion will be the home for Holsworthy Youth Football and Holsworthy Cricket Clubs who both currently play their respective sports within the park without adequate facilities.  

“It will enable them to carry out their objectives to increase the number of young people playing football and cricket as well as providing facilities to form new girls and women football teams, and providing excellent changing and meeting facilities for other users of the Park.”

Since 2000, the Football Foundation Funding Partners’ investment has provided 222 grants worth £10.3m towards grassroots sports projects worth over £19.5m across the whole of Devon. 

Founded in 2000, the Football Foundation is the largest sports charity in the UK funded by the Premier League, The FA and Government, via Sport England. It develops new and refurbished grassroots sports facilities in order to improve the quality and experience of playing sport at the grassroots level. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded over 17,000 grants worth more than £615m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £817m – £1.4bn of investment into the grassroots game.

official opening