WATFORD FC, MERIDEN COMMUNITY CENTRE

WATFORD FC’S COMMUNITY SPORTS AND EDUCATION TRUST SELECTED MCARDLE SPORT TEC AND TIGERTURF TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACE AT MERIDEN COMMUNITY CENTRE.

In December 2012, Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust took over the running of Meriden Community Centre from Watford Borough Council with plans to refurbish and improve the centre both internally and externally. Their aim was to “develop a vibrant youth and community centre aiming to enhance the lives of local residents, providing social benefits with its diverse programme of activities.”

As part of the plan to improve the external facilities, the Trust applied for funding to contribute towards a brand new synthetic sports surface for football. Watford Community Sports & Education Trust were successfully awarded a grant of £250,916 from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, as well as funds from Watford Borough Council, The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation and Watford FC’s CSE Trust itself.

After a successful tender, McArdle Sport Tec were selected with TigerTurf to construct and install the new 61m x 43m synthetic pitch complete with fencing and floodlighting at an old tarmac site within the community centre grounds.

During the construction programme, the site was visited by the Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill. The Trust’s Community Director, Rob Smith, and Head of Community Facilities, Steve Williams, met with Mayor Dorothy to show the progress made to date.

Watford stars Troy Deeney, Heurelho Gomes and Jerome Sinclair joined Graham Taylor OBE, Hornets legend and Football Foundation Ambassador, to officially unveil Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust’s (CSET) new 3G pitch in November 2016.

Speaking about the new facility, Graham Taylor said:

“I am personally delighted to open Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust’s new fantastic artificial grass pitch at the Meriden Community Centre alongside Troy, Heurelho and Jerome.

My role as Football Foundation Ambassador allows me to see the massive difference that these types of grassroots facilities make. They enable more and more people of all ages and abilities to enjoy playing football and many other sports purely for the love of it.

Having enjoyed a great many years, both in the dugout and as Chairman, at Vicarage Road, the club holds a very special place in my heart. From that time I also know that Watford has long been a club that is genuinely committed to its local community.

I want to congratulate the Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust for working with the Football Foundation to secure a grant from Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund that has helped to develop this excellent facility. It will serve as an important venue for them to deliver life-changing community projects that improve the health, education and quality of life of local people. The site will also be an important hub for grassroots football clubs and many other sports and groups in the area. Fantastically well done to all concerned!”

Watford FC’s media team took some video footage of the construction progress; this can be found here.