Courtesy: Gloucestershire Gazette


School could produce sporting stars of the future

By Jayne Bennett

SPORTING developments at Chipping Sodbury School mean that young footballers in our region may get a headstart in the national game.

The school has already been granted £1.9million by South Gloucestershire Council for a new sports hall and a further £550,000 was approved last week.

However, the school is not stopping there and is also seeking £1million from the Football Foundation (the charity arm of the FA) to enhance the original plans for the sports hall to make it large enough for a Futsal' court' (about the size of four badminton courts ); a floodlit Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP); new changing facilities; a Coach Education suite and a multi-use studio space, to provide top quality sporting facilities at the school for both pupils and the community.

The school's business manager, Richard Blacker, has been working closely with the FA and their technical adviser visited the school last Thursday to help with the fine details of the school's funding bid.

Mr Blacker said: "The simple fact that the FA are willing to send someone down to talk to us prior to the bid being made is very unusual and a really good sign."

Headteacher Philip Lidstone is equally optimistic.

He said: "Futsal originated in Brazil and is very much like five-a-side but is played with a smaller, heavier ball so it doesn't rebound as much.

"It's played on a court, rather than a pitch, and I reckon it could be The Saviour of English football' as it is honing our youngsters' skills with the ball."

Mr Lidstone added: "We are working hard to get everything underway as quickly as possible, and we are being as open as we can be, both at school and in the community.

"For us to achieve the funding we need there must be a community dimension to the project and we believe we can get the balance just right between school use and community use.

"This site would have significant usage, all year round, and everyone would benefit.

"However, we still have to gain additional funding and, most importantly, planning permission for all this to go ahead."

Members of the public are invited to a consultation exhibition on the plans for new sports facilities at the school in the Drama Hall on Thursday, April 3, 4pm-7.30pm.





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com