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Investing in Local Grass Roots Sport - Chiltern Hills Artificial Grass Pitch

The artificial grass pitch (AGP) was completed in June 2020.  The pitch has been built through a collaboration with the Academy Trust, the FA, the Football Foundation, the RFU and with the support of the local community.

It is available for use by the school during term-time weekdays and can be booked weekday evenings, weekends and school holidays. The new facility will also serve two partner football clubs: Chesham Athletic and Chesham United.  The on-site rugby club will also use the facility for training.

The new pitch is a full-size Fifa compliant football pitch enabling full 11-a-side games to be played as well as 9 a-side and 5-a-side.  The floodlit pitch has relevant line markings with the associated goals for these matches, it is open up to 10pm weekdays and 8pm at weekends.

The artificial grass pitch’s durable, all-weather surface, with porous layers which let water drain through easily, can be played on for 80 hours a week, as opposed to the five hours a week natural grass pitches can withstand.

For bookings please contact: lettings@chacademy.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our local need

A public access all-weather sports pitch is a normal part of a modern community.  Go anywhere in Europe, even the smallest, poorest town has a floodlit synthetic turf pitch where everyone can play outdoors all year round.  Every week in Chiltern District, more than 200 teams play football and rugby, but our District is the only one in this region with no all-weather pitch to train or play on.

How this came about

Project volunteer Dr Mark Pegg says it’s been a long haul.  Over the last 3 years there has been a great deal of detailed research and consultation with local clubs and interested parties to raise the profile of the Chiltern Hills Artificial Grass Pitch project and mobilise their support.  He says, ‘We’ve shown the project meets a very real need; it will be fully used by the local community and we can demonstrate it will be financially viable’.  He adds, ‘It is really pleasing to see the enthusiasm everyone has for this project and the commitment to get it funded and built’.

 

 

(For PDF of leaflet use link below)

February 2020 Update

This month has seen the start of a four month construction period to complete this amazing facility.  This project has been generously supported by the Premier League and Football Foundation, Rugby England and by a number of organisations and individuals raising close to £900k.

When this is completed there will be no more cancelled training sessions or matches caused by waterlogged pitches. The facility will be used by the school during the day and by the community at weekends and in the evenings. 

In the photograph is Cllr Patricia Birchley is digging the first earth watched by Bill Richards from Chesham Town Council, the Chair and Vice Chair of Governors, Mr Andrew Brown and Mr Graham Hull, Mr Barry Jacobs, Contracts Manager at  Mcardle Sport-Tec with Mr Kevin Patrick, Principal at Chiltern Hills Academy.

This project would not have been possible without the assistance of Dr Mark Pegg who has worked tirelessly to ensure that planning and fundraising have aligned to achieve this outcome.  

Mr Patrick said: ‘This project will provide a fantastic community facility for years to come. There is not a similar pitch in the town and surrounding area.  Many players, young and old, will enjoy using this fully FA compliant pitch, so we look forward to seeing it completed and in use.’

There remains a small funding gap and the school continues to fund-raise.  You can help, using the Just Giving campaign at:  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cha3g or email ch3g@chacademy.co.uk  if you would like to become a sponsor or to donate in another way, for this soon to be completed facility.