The new pitch has been delivered through a partnership between The Pinnacle Learning Trust (PLT), the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation, with Oldham Active and PlayFootball supporting the school to ensure the facility can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
The official opening of the pitch was marked on Thursday 24 September, during the grand final of the Pinnacle Primary Sports Cluster football fixtures, a PLT led initiative facilitated by Lorna Philip - Pinnacle Community Sport and Outreach Officer, and Pete Jackson - Oldham Active Schools Sports Coach. Our Sports Cluster provides vital sporting opportunities and activities for 25 primary schools across Oldham.
The special event was attended by former Oldham Athletic manager Pete Wild, who cut the ribbon, alongside representatives from the Football Foundation, Oldham Active, PlayFootball and partner clubs, to mark the milestone occasion.
The development represents a significant investment in physical health and wellbeing of students, while also creating new opportunities for local people to take part in sport, develop their skills and enjoy football within their community.
Physical health and wellbeing is an important part of life at Hathershaw, and the new facility will further enhance the sporting opportunities available to students. The high quality 3G pitch will support PE lessons, extracurricular activities and school teams, while also providing a dedicated space for young people to develop their confidence, teamwork and sporting abilities.
The pitch will also serve as a community facility, helping to make football and physical activity more accessible to people of all ages in the local area.
Susie Fraser, Principal at Hathershaw College, said:
“It has been an absolute delight to officially open our fantastic new 3G sports pitch, it represents a massive milestone for both Hathershaw College and our wider local community. At Hathershaw, we are deeply committed to supporting the physical health, wellbeing and personal development of our students and families. The state of the art facility will greatly enhance our PE offer, school teams and extracurricular activities, providing an inspiring space where young people can build confidence and thrive. We are incredibly grateful to our partners in the Football Foundation, Oldham Active and Play Football, for making this project a reality. I look forward to seeing this outstanding asset being enjoyed by residents of all ages across Oldham.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“We’re delighted that the local community in Oldham will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new 3G pitch at Hathershaw College.”
Stuart Lockwood, Chief Executive Officer at Oldham Active, said:
“Oldham Active are delighted to take the lead role in operating community use of the new Hathershaw facility on behalf on Pinnacle Trust – it’s clear from the outset that this venue is a real source of pride for local residents and we will strive to ensure it is enjoyed to the full outside of school hours. With the help of PlayFootball, we will work hard so that this outstanding community asset is easy to access and a brilliant experience on every visit.”
Steve Bennett, Chief Commercial Officer at PlayFootball, said:
“PlayFootball are delighted to be working alongside The Hathershaw College on this fantastic new 3G pitch. By meeting the Football Foundation’s usage requirements, we’ll help ensure the facility becomes a thriving hub for both the school and the local community. Together, we share a commitment to making football more accessible and providing more opportunities for people to play, develop and enjoy the game.”
The new facility forms part of Hathershaw, and the trust’s wider commitment to supporting the health, wellbeing and personal development of its students, while strengthening the school’s links with the local community.
With the pitch now available for use, Hathershaw College invites students and local residents to visit, use and benefit from the community sporting facilities on their doorstep, helping to create more opportunities for the people of Oldham to be healthy and active.
