Bels’ own 3G pitch to open next month
BELGRAVES will soon have their own 3G pitch at the Track – albeit a five-a-side one.
The club, which celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2022, has moved to offset the losses of its historic catchment areas to instal its own all-weather facility and, with it, give a shot in the arm to its sustained push to re-establish a minis section which, in turn, will once again provide youth sides.
Funding for this significantly costly project comes from DWA, a long-term Belgraves supporter.
Recognising the ‘rebirth’ of the Belgraves minis section, the company approached the club with a project designed to protect the future of, and even enhance the Belgraves minis, in the shape of a 3G five-a-side pitch.
Hilary Sarre, speaking on behalf of DWA, said: ‘With the loss of traditional areas – St Peter School and the estates at Victoria Avenue – and the planned works by GFA at Victoria Avenue, we wanted to assist the club by providing a facility that not only allows all age groups to train and play in all weathers, but also provides the club with an income stream to support the ongoing developments at the Track.’
Andy Robert, the Belgraves president, is naturally delighted with the additional support which comes at a time the club are spending heavily to replace the grandstand roof.
‘We were approached in December by DWA and to us it was no-brainer,’ said Robert.
‘We are fortunate and thankful to DWA for their continuing support at this level.
‘Having such a facility available on-site complements everything we are trying to do to help players enjoy and develop their football at Bels, with the long-term aim of returning the club to competitiveness at all levels.’
Work on the pitch began this year and the club hopse to have the facility up and running as early as next month, and while it will primarily be a club facility, it is intended to make the area available generally in due course.
In recent years Bels have been a missing cog in the Ravenscroft Youth Development Leagues and the Deloitte Corbet Cup and Shield competitions below that.
In years gone by, Bels had an abundance of minis on Saturday mornings at Victoria Avenue. Since last season, with the involvement of a number of older and ex players, the club's minis section has undergone a revival to the extent that some 80-plus youngsters from Years 1 to 5 are now enjoying regular Saturday morning football.
