Arsenal defender and Lionesses captain, Leah Williamson, returned to Milton Keynes yesterday (August 12) to celebrate the opening of The Leah Williamson Pitch at Newport Pagnell Town FC.
Leah Williamson, who was previously given freedom of the city in 2023, returned to Milton Keynes yesterday, August 12, to celebrate the opening of The Leah Williamson Pitch located at Newport Pagnell Town FC. The pitch, named after Leah, was one site to have received the Lionesses Future Fund grants.
In recognition of the Lionesses' groundbreaking achievement, the Premier League, the FA, and the Government's Footfall Foundation announced a £30 million cash infusion. With preferential access through allocated peak-time slots and inviting changing rooms, the funding will help to give women and girls across the nation with gold standard facilities and experiences.
Compared to before the competition, 68,000 more girls are playing football now thanks to the Lionesses winning the EURO championship in 2022. But all too frequently, dimly lit fields, inappropriate locker rooms, and late-night kickoff times discourage women and girls from using the field.
In honor of the Lionesses' thrilling triumph at the 2022 UEFA EUROs and their accomplishment of reaching the FIFA World Cup 2023 final, the Government and The FA pledged to provide £25 million and £5 million, respectively, to the renovation of at least thirty facilities nationwide.
The Leah Williamson Pitch is just one of 14 sites across the country from Oldham to the New Forest and Suffolk to Somerset who have been awarded a Lionesses Futures Fund grant. By January 2025 further sites will be in place to provide every women and girl the facilities they need and deserve.
Leah Williamson said, "It is such an honour to be here to see one of the first Lionesses Futures Fund pitches come to life. Something I know the squad is incredibly proud of. This pitch will provide the very best playing experience for local women and girls, ensuring they can play at decent times and on a state-of-the-art pitch."
Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation, said, “It’s a real pleasure to be here to unveil one of the first 3G pitches that a Lionesses Futures Fund Grant has made possible. For the pitch to be named after local footballing legend Leah Williamson in recognition of the Lionesses recent successes will be incredibly inspiring for the players here at Newport Pagnell Town."
“This Fund builds on the Football Foundation’s biggest ever commitment to providing equal access to grassroots facilities for women and girls2, Robert added.
Ian Ford, Chair of Newport Pagnell Town FC, said, "We are extremely grateful and appreciative of the financial support form the Lionesses Futures Fund and other partners. We would like to thank The FA, the Football foundation, the City Council and the Town Council for their unwavering support."
Ian added, "This project has been three years in the making, so to see this come to fruition today is quite emotional. Our Club is run by volunteers so to see the tenacity, determination and tears to ensure this project was a success has been quite humbling."
Find out more about the Lionesses Futures Fund here.
