Football club to partner with community centre project

Volunteers have been working on the Maplefields community centre project for over 12 years

A non-league football club has announced it will partner with a community centre project to transform it into a community hub.

Kettering Town Football Club (KTFC) said it had secured a 17-year lease for the former Maplefields School sports hall on Britannia Road.

The Maplefields community centre project was started in 2013 by two councillors and a small team of volunteers.

George Akhtar, chairman at KTFC, said: "We are privileged to be able to work with both the Maplefields community centre project and the KTFC Community Trust to save and grow this heritage community asset for future generations."

'Absolutely delighted'

The site carries historical significance for local fans, having served as a meeting point for KTFC supporters en-route to matches at their former ground Rockingham Road.

Once refurbished, the centre will feature a state-of-the-art kitchen, a sports hall, office and classroom spaces, and enhanced outdoor areas.

Lesley Thurland, founder and director of the Maplefields community centre project said: "I’m absolutely delighted that we have found a lasting solution for this brilliant community space.

"After many years of hard work, I can’t wait to see the centre being enjoyed by residents young and old."

The facility is expected to open by February 2025.