Charlton to get spaced out

Last updated : 09 December 2005 By Editor

Sparrows Lane complex, located six miles from The Valley, is to receive a £600,000 grant to help redevelop the club's training ground, reported the South London Press.

Barclays Spaces for Sports, a partnership between Barclays, the Football Foundation and Groundwork, will provide much needed sports facilities to residents of New Eltham and the surrounding areas within the borough of Greenwich.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley said: "I am very pleased that Barclays Spaces for Sports is investing in the facilities at Sparrows Lane. I look forward to seeing the area develop and being used to nurture young talent in the local community."

Steve Waggott, chief executive of the Charlton Charitable Trust that oversees the club's community work, added: "It's all part of our overall vision for the training ground, where first-team professionals will be based in the same area as all our community projects, a girls' and women's development centre, and the club's renowned academy set-up. It will be a fantastic addition to the work we do currently, and will take us to another level. It's great news for the trust, the club and the surrounding community.

The main bulk of the money will be used to build a state-of-the-art artificial training pitch and the additional £50,000 will help to implement the 'Community Centre 4 Skills' project (kit and equipment worth £5,000, and a £45,000 development fund to ensure sustainability of the 35-acre site.) The proposals have already received the backing of Greenwich Council, which granted planning permission in late October.