A brand new state-of-the-art 3G football pitch has officially opened at Jubilee Park in Page Moss following an investment of more than £1million.

The transformative project, delivered through a partnership between Knowsley Council and the Football Foundation and Huyton Juniors FC, has created high-quality football facilities that will provide opportunities for local children to play, train and develop their skills all year round, for years to come.

The investment represents one of the largest-ever funding awards made by the Football Foundation for a 9v9 pitch, highlighting the significance of the project and its impact on the local community.

The new facility is the home of local grassroots club Huyton Juniors FC who, as the Jubilee Community Sports Hub CIC, will take charge of the facility through the council’s community asset transfer scheme, supporting hundreds of local players and helping to grow participation in football across the borough.

As well as the new all-weather 3G pitch, the project has included a full refurbishment of the pavilion building. The upgraded facilities now feature modern spaces, upgraded toilets and a kitchen supplied by Howdens Kitchens through their Game Changer Programme. This has created a welcoming community sports hub for players, coaches, volunteers and visitors as well as new car parking facilities.

A special launch event was held on Thursday 29 October to mark the completion of the project, bringing together representatives from Knowsley Council, the Football Foundation, Huyton Juniors and the local community.

There were some special guests in attendance on the day including England and Everton legend, manager and pundit Peter Reid who played football in Jubilee Park in his childhood. Former Huyton Juniors players turned professionals also came back to see the exciting changes at their old club, Riley Carroll who now plays for Salford City and Lucas McClay a prominent English visually impaired (VI) athlete who plays for the England VI team as well as for Bolton Futsal.

Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council said:

“This is a perfect example of Knowsley Council putting its money where its mouth is. We have long said that we are committed to investing in our communities, our parks and our young people, and this fantastic new facility at Jubilee Park shows exactly what that commitment looks like in practice.

“For young people growing up in Page Moss, facilities like these can make all the difference. They provide opportunities to be active, build confidence, make friends and be part of a team, all while enjoying the many physical and mental health benefits that sport brings.

“Importantly, this isn’t a facility that will only be used during the summer months. One of the biggest advantages of a 3G pitch is that football does not have to stop when the weather turns or the nights draw in. Instead of teams having to cut sessions short, cancel training or travel elsewhere to find suitable facilities, they can continue playing all year round.

This is a fantastic legacy for Page Moss and one that will benefit generations of local families for years to come.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“We’re delighted that the local community in Knowsley will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at Jubilee Park in Page Moss.”

Stephen Smith, Chair of Huyton Juniors FC said:

“We are delighted to have finally delivered such a vital community facility after years of hard work alongside Knowsley Council and the Football Foundation. This project demonstrates the power of partnership working and our shared commitment to creating more opportunities for local children to enjoy football and lead active, healthy lives.

“The transformation at Jubilee Park is remarkable. Our local children and young people now have access to state-of-the-art facilities on their doorstep, providing a place where they can play, train and develop their skills in an environment they can be proud of.

“These new facilities will support grassroots football all year round in Page Moss while creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in sport. Huyton Juniors FC are proud to be working alongside Knowsley Council to run this outstanding facility in the heart of the community for the community.”

The opening of the new facilities forms part of Knowsley Council’s wider commitment to investing in parks, leisure infrastructure and opportunities that support healthier, more active communities.

Further works will take place on site over the next few weeks to create a new pedestrian entrance and pathway off Lincombe Road to create a safe segregated pedestrian route to the Sports Hub and play area. Works will also be undertaken to resurface the vehicle entrance and installation of fencing to connect the Pavilion to the pitch.