New sports pitch launches in Chesterfield - and here's how you can use it

The 3G pitch has opened at the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre on Boythorpe Road.

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The flood-lit all-weather pitch is big enough to support either one seven-a-side game or two five-a-side football games at a time.

Keen footballer Oli Papworth, from Newbold, said: “This is a really good facility and it’s great to see the local area get something new like this for everyone to use.

“As well as training here with Chesterfield FC, I often play here with my mates too in my free time.

“It’s really good for seven-a-side football.”

The pitch was built to meet a need identified by the Football Association and Sport England to increase the number of artificial pitches available in the borough.

Oli’s coach Neil Cluxton added: “We’ve got a great relationship with the team over at the sports centre.

“Previously, we were having to train at Graves Sports Centre, outside of the borough, so we’re really grateful to be able to be back in Chesterfield and we’re really benefitting from this excellent new pitch.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I’m thrilled to see that the sports pitch is now open and being used by members of our community.

“One of our priorities is to improve the quality of life for local people and offering more opportunities for people to take part in sport activities can only be a good thing.

“I hope that the performance of the England women’s football team in last summer’s world cup and also the England rugby team in last autumn’s rugby world cup will also encourage more people to take up sport and use the new pitch.”

The old Queen’s Park Sports Centre closed at the end of December 2015 ahead of the current centre opening on the site of the former Queen’s Park Annexe the following month.

Any groups or individuals interested in using the pitch should contact the team at Queen’s Park Sports Centre by calling 01246 345555 or by emailing [email protected].

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