Islington kids get all-new football pitch in time for summer

11.11.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jul 2008

Cllrs Fiona Dunlop, Greg Foxsmith, and Julia Williams at the brand new Elthorne Park astroturf pitch.

The Mayor of Islington has opened a brand new sports facility at Elthorne Park. Local Hillrise councillors have been calling for new facilities at Elthorne for some time, and all three - Fiona Dunlop, Greg Foxsmith, and Julia Williams - came along to unveil the new third-generation top-quality astroturf football pitch.

Islington's Liberal Democrat Council and Arsenal FC each gave £60,000 towards building a new artificial football pitch in the middle of Elthorne Park. The pitches are open all day and every evening without having to book, except when Arsenal is running training sessions for local young people.

Arsenal will be giving professional training at Elthorne as part of the Kickz project, which has been praised nationally for giving young people constructive activities and providing positive role models

Local Councillor Greg Foxsmith, who relished the opportunity to demonstrate his "silky ball skills" on the new pitch, said:

"This is a great new venue for the Arsenal-standard coaching that Kickz gives young people in our area, and a fantastic new sports facility for youngsters to hone their football skills. Hopefully Elthorne Park will produce the next Theo Walcott.

"It shows what the council can achieve when it works hand-in-hand with businesses and the local community. I'd really like to thank Arsenal FC and the Cruyff Foundation, as well as the Council, for giving us this brilliant new community facility."

Councillor Julia Williams added:

"This investment into Elthorne Park is part of a programme of improvements to sports facilities and green spaces right across Islington in the run up to the Olympics in 2012. People have asked for well-maintained facilities that meet the needs of the community - so it's great that together with Arsenal, the Council has been able to deliver for our neighbourhood."