GRASSROOTS football facilities at Knights Grange in Winsford will be improved thanks to an injection of funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The council has announced that it has committed to investing £4 million into 24 grassroots football projects across the borough, over the next three years.

It has also identified Knights Grange in Winsford as one of five priorities for the first year of the programme.

The Council has worked closely with Cheshire FA, the Football Foundation, partners and stakeholders to identify 24 priority projects within the borough. These projects range from informal sites and grass pitches through to changing rooms and third generation (3G) artificial pitches.

This initiative is part of the Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) – the Council’s commitment to investing in grassroots provision to improve health and wellbeing for residents.

The first year of the programme will look to assist Frodsham Junior Football Club who are based at Helsby High school and to improve facilities for clubs at King George V playing fields, Blacon, Knights Grange in Winsford and Seacombe Drive playing fields in Ellesmere Port. The council is working closely with clubs and partners to identify external funding to support the projects.

The future plans of the programme are currently under development and will include improvements to pitches at many other sites across the Borough.

Cllr Louise Gittins, cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to contribute to such an important cause and help to meet our priorities around Health and Wellbeing by making sport accessible for all.

“The funding is part of an ambitious plan to increase the number of people accessing grassroots football. It will also support The FA’s aim to double the number of women and girls who play football. We hope that the funding will help to benefit all of the residents in our borough at some point.”