Newcastle City Council pledges £250,000, completing the funding package for a project designed to secure the club’s future and benefit the wider community.
Heaton Stannington AFC Limited is delighted to announce a major milestone in its ambition to convert its existing grass pitch into a modern 3G artificial playing surface, following confirmation that Newcastle City Council will pledge £250,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) towards the project.
This commitment means that all the funding required for the project has now been raised, bringing the club’s vision significantly closer to reality.
The proposed development aims to secure the long-term future of Heaton Stannington, supporting our senior and junior teams while improving the club’s financial sustainability through significant potential cost savings. It would also create greater opportunities to develop the club as a community hub, supporting football alongside other community sports and physical activities.
Reaching this milestone has involved close collaboration with the Football Association, Northumberland FA, the Football Foundation, Newcastle City Council, our Ward Councils and our local MPs. While Football Foundation funding is available to contribute towards the project, the club is also required to make a significant financial contribution. Despite committing as much as is viable for a club of our size, additional support was needed to complete the funding package.
Scott Lyndon and Neil Drummond, Joint Chairmen at Heaton Stannington AFC Limited, had this to say:
“This is a hugely significant moment for our club. The prospect of a 3G pitch represents an investment in our long-term future, giving our senior and junior teams greater security while creating opportunities to welcome more people and activities into our community.
“We are extremely grateful to Newcastle City Council for its £250,000 pledge and to all the organisations and individuals who have worked with us to reach this stage. Securing the funding needed is a tremendous achievement, and we look forward to progressing the next steps.”
Although the funding is now in place, several stages of development, assessment and approval remain before the project can be fully sanctioned. The club will now begin working through these requirements and will provide further updates as plans progress.
We are committed to engaging closely with local community groups, neighbouring residents and businesses throughout the next phase of the project.
Heaton Stannington AFC would like to thank everyone who has supported this ambition to date. This is an important step towards a stronger, more sustainable future for the club and the wider community.
