To replace existing goals which are heavy and worn out. These will be lighter, safer and easier to position and therefore offer a more flexible and inclusive sporting environment as coaches will be able to adapt pitch layouts to cater for various groups accessing pitches.
Description
Local Priority: Improving spaces to increase opportunities for sport and exercise
We hope to purchase and install new portable football goals at our 3G pitch, located at Fairfield Community Sports Hub. The existing goals are worn and heavy, making them difficult to move and unsuitable for the range of activities and age groups who use the facility. The new goals will be lighter, safer, and easier to reposition—improving flexibility for training, matches, and inclusive programming across all user groups.
Our 3G pitches are used by people of all ages, from toddlers as young as 18 months to older adults in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. Activities include early years football, youth development, adult 5-a-side, walking football, para football, and mental health recovery sessions. The new portable goals will ensure a safer, more adaptable environment for all, enabling coaches and session leaders to tailor the pitch layout to the specific needs of each group.
This project aligns strongly with local priorities by:
Improving health and wellbeing: High-quality sports infrastructure encourages people of all ages and abilities to be active, helping to address physical and mental health challenges, tackle loneliness, and build resilience.
Supporting inclusion and participation: With easier-to-move goals, we can better accommodate inclusive formats like para football and mental health sessions, creating a more welcoming environment for people who may otherwise face barriers to participation.
Empowering young people and families: The pitch is regularly used for sessions that support early years development, youth engagement, and family activity—offering positive pathways through sport.
Strengthening community cohesion: As a valued community asset in an area facing economic and social challenges, the Sports Hub plays a vital role in bringing people together. This investment will improve the quality of delivery and open up more opportunities for diverse groups to share the space.
By replacing our outdated goals with modern, portable alternatives, we’ll be able to offer a safer, more flexible, and inclusive sporting environment that meets the needs of our community now and into the future. This upgrade will enable us to continue delivering meaningful, accessible, and engaging physical activity for all—from 18 months to 99 years.
Our consultation has included:
Feedback surveys and coach debriefs following sessions and block bookings.
Engagement with parent groups and carers, particularly around early years and disability sport sessions.
Community events and forums where local residents have raised facility improvements as a priority.
The need for this investment is also reflected in wider local priorities around reducing health inequalities, supporting young people, and improving access to inclusive sport. As a well-used and loved facility, Fairfield Community Sports Hub plays a central role in addressing these aims—and safe, high-quality equipment is essential to deliver this.
The request for portable new goals has come directly from those who use the pitch every day. This project responds to that need, ensuring the facility remains accessible, inclusive, and fit for purpose for all ages and abilities.
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