New £11.9m football hub gets ready for kick-off

Derby City Council has announced the opening date for a brand new £11.9 million hub designed to support grassroots football in the city.

The Derby Racecourse Hub, built at Derby Racecourse, is set to host open days on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February, from 10am to 8pm.

The public will be able to tour the new state-of-the-art facilities, which include new pitches and a community building.

The project has been jointly funded by the city council and the Premier League, The FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation. The facilities will be operated by Leisure United, on behalf of the council.

Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, the city council’s cabinet member for communities and Streetpride, said: “The football hub’s kick-off marks a significant moment, opening our £11.9 million facility to the public.

“This state-of-the-art venue, made possible through collaboration between Derby City Council and key football bodies, promises high-quality, sustainable facilities.”

The hub aims to provide high-quality, sustainable facilities for year-round pitch use, ensuring a lasting future for grassroots football.

It boasts three new full-size 3G football turf pitches (FTPs), along with a refurbished existing FTP.

The community building features a community café, additional community meeting spaces, increased parking spaces, and improved entry and exit points to the site.

The Racecourse Park has also seen improvements, featuring a recently added play area, basketball court, and outdoor gym.

Attendees to the open days will have the opportunity to register for building access, tour the pitches and building, and enjoy refreshments in the café.

Dean Hogan, director of operations at Leisure United, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be welcoming players, spectators, residents and staff members from the local community to the new football hub at Derby Racecourse.

“The interest and attention already prior to opening the new facility demonstrates the love of football in Derby and the demand for first-class FTP’s and facilities.”

An official opening event is planned later this year.

For further details on pitch bookings and building access registration, visit https://leisureunited.com/ .