Southwick grassroots football facility to be redeveloped

Old Barn Way will be redeveloped into a grassroots facility and community space

Plans to bring community football back to one of the oldest grounds in Sussex have been approved.

Old Barn Way, the former home of Southwick FC, will be redeveloped into a modern-day grassroots facility and community space.

The planned facility features a new clubhouse and full-size 3G football pitch with replacement floodlights and a spectator stand for up to 56 people.

Emma Evans from Adur District Council called the plans "really exciting".

The transformation will be carried out by the Russell Martin Foundation (RMF), a not-for-profit organisation set up by the current manager of Southampton FC.

Mr Martin said he wanted to "give something back" to the area where he was born and raised.

As well as hosting changing rooms, a bar and a kitchen, the single-storey clubhouse will be a flexible space for a variety of education and health improvement programmes.

As owner of the site, Adur District Council released £50,000 of funding for urgent safety works to the facility, allowing football to be played at the ground again in the short-term.

Ms Evans, Adur's cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said: "I'd like to thank the Russell Martin Foundation for its interest in bringing this facility back to life, for the benefit of the whole community.

"I hope it won't be long until locals can benefit from the site's redevelopment."

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