Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation to build huge community football site

Full-size 3G pitch and new changing pavilion to be set up in one of region's poorest areas. Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation is to build a huge football hub in one of Merseyside's poorest areas.

A site plan for the new development at Orrell Mount Sports Hub

In February this year, Sefton Council approved plans to enclose a large section of Orrell Mount Park in Litherland, known locally as Silcocks, and turn it into a 3G pitch.

The 23 Foundation was successful in a bid to facilitate the development and says the space will provide the local community with high quality, well-managed sports facilities.

Earlier this month, some residents living in the streets surrounding the field raised concerns they will lose one of the few places they can take their children to play or take their dogs for a walk.

The 23 Foundation has today said this will not be the case - and that the development will include plenty of green space for these activities to continue.

Plans for the new hub include a new full-sized, fenced, and floodlit 3G rubber crumb pitch along with a traditionally built single storey changing pavilion.

There will also be new access and car park works.

Jamie Carragher's foundation is launching a huge new sports development in Litherland. Image: Peter Powell/NMC Pool/PA Wire

Jamie Carragher told the ECHO: "We need a 3G pitch in South Sefton because there isn't one. These can be very lucrative ventures, but every penny will go back to help the community.

"Maybe it'll be free coaching for kids over half term, or we can put the coaches through to get proper training qualifications.

"This is where I used to play football for Bootle Boys, so we're hoping to have some involvement with them, as well as schools nearby."

James Olsen, from the foundation, echoed this, saying: "This is about creating a space for everyone in the area.

"We want to work with schools, who can use the facilities for free, run after-school sessions, and do things in the half term to keep kids off the streets."

Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation says it will provide a management service for the new sports hub through a five-year contract, with the following aims:

• Providing the local community with high quality, well managed facilities with high levels of usage and customer satisfaction
• Providing a managed programme of use which supports partner club growth and offers a range of recreational football activities to people of all ages, genders and abilities to deliver the FA strategic outcomes
• Delivering agreed KPIs around key Council priorities - participation in physical activity, stakeholder engagement, health and well-being, social inclusion
• Developing the project partnerships through the Project Steering Group and managing the delivery of the Football Foundation Site Development Plan

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