New football pitch at Rossmore Leisure Centre, Poole, opens

Footballers across the conurbation can enjoy perfect playing facilities at Rossmore Leisure Centre, thanks to a £726,000 grant from the Premier League, The FA and the government’s Football Foundation.

Combined with an investment of just under half a million pounds from BCP Council and a donation of £25,000 from the Talbot Village Trust, a full-sized 3G football turf pitch with fencing and floodlights has been constructed.

The facility was opened on March 4, with AFC Bournemouth Women’s star Kenni Thompson speaking to the Dexters U11 girls during their training session.

Council officers, councillors, representatives from the Football Foundation, Everyone Active, St Aldhelm’s Academy, the Kids Initiative, Talbot Village Trust and Longfleet and Rossmore Rockets football clubs were also in attendance.

The new facility is a significant improvement from the previous pitch, which was prone to waterlogging and causing matches to be abandoned.

The leisure centre changing rooms have also been refurbished, alongside the installation CCTV and cycle storage.

The community will use the new facility during the evenings, at weekends and school holidays, with bookings made through Everyone Active.

During term time, pupils from St Aldhelm’s Academy will use the pitch.

Cllr Millie Earl, deputy leader and portfolio holder for connected communities, said: “This pitch at Rossmore is a brilliant addition to the local community, and anyone visiting the leisure centre, or walking nearby at Bourne Valley Park can hear how much everyone is enjoying it already.”

Dean Potter, director of grant management at the Football Foundation, said: “Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“We’re delighted that the local community in Poole will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new 3G pitch at Rossmore Leisure Centre.”

Hollie Jones, area contract manager at Everyone Active, said: “We are delighted to officially open our new 3G pitch and are grateful to all those who have helped make it happen.”

Nick Ashley Cooper, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said: “Research continues to demonstrate a clear link between sports and wellbeing, both for players and audiences, so it’s been a pleasure to support this brilliant new facility and community asset, which provides a high-quality sports surface that can be used all year by school pupils, amateur enthusiasts, and professional sports teams.”