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19th June 2025
Posted by Aston Avery
Future football stars in Basildon received a boost after the Council announced it had registered its interest in a government scheme that could bring a state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound facility to the borough.
The Football Foundation programme has been seeking local authorities to partner with to help bring change to the grassroots game by creating a modern sports hub, which would offer top quality sporting facilities all year round.
The services supported by the hub would be based on local demands, but typically include two full-size floodlit 3G pitches, a car park, a café and changing rooms.
Basildon Council has submitted an expression of interest to the Football Foundation, which included identifying a number of a potential sites, including Eversley Park near the leisure centre, Gloucester Park near Basildon Sporting Village, and Holy Cross Recreation Ground.
The nationwide programme uses investment from the Premier League, FA, and Sport England.
Councillor Jack Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport, Children and Young People, said:
“The hubs programme is an exciting prospect for Basildon, which could bring a much-needed boost to the grassroots game, offering a host of other facilities that will benefit the wider community – and who knows, maybe it will produce a future star of the Premier League.
“This reaffirms our commitment to create a healthier, happier Basildon and outlines our desire to make our borough a go-to destination for sporting and entertainment facilities.”
As part of the funding agreement, the site would be operated on a not-for-profit basis with the council sitting alongside other organisations as a trustee.
All surplus income generated by the facility would be reinvested back into local grassroots sports, creating a sustainable future for the industry.
The council will now wait for a decision to be made from The Football Foundation before deciding to submit a formal application.