AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, Ringwood Town Council and Ringwood Town Football Club are excited to announce a partnership to develop the facilities at Long Lane, Ringwood.
The three organisations are being supported by New Forest District Council, the Football Foundation and Hampshire County FA to help bring the vision into fruition, with an application for planning permission to be submitted soon.
The significant investment into the re-development at Long Lane represents an opportunity to develop an excellent sporting and social facility for the town of Ringwood.
The site will continue to be the home of Ringwood Town FC and will enable staff and players associated with AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust to be based on site. Crucially, a number of community programmes will also be based on site and all in the one location.
The phased development will comprise of: a new full size 3G artificial turf pitch (ATP), improvements to existing grass pitches, redeveloping the car park and a new pavilion with changing rooms.
Speaking about the redevelopment and partnership with Ringwood Town, Head of Community Steve Cuss said: "This is a hugely exciting and innovative development for the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust.
"Being able to bring together a number of community programmes at a dedicated site will ensure that we continue to engage the local community and offer programmes from young to old."
Phil King, Chairman of Ringwood Town FC, also commented: "I am thrilled. This is such an important milestone.
"We are working so closely together with AFC Bournemouth's Community Sports Trust, Ringwood Town Council, NFDC and the Football Foundation to deliver facilities fit for the modern age and something the club and people of Ringwood can be proud of.
"We’ll have the opportunity to fulfil our aspirations of providing football to all and developing players whether you’re six or 60!
"We have an existing arrangement with AFC Bournemouth's Community Sports Trust that is fantastic, with many of our youngsters able to experience their coaching expertise and improve their own skills. This partnership will help take it to a whole new level."
Tony Ring, Mayor of Ringwood Town Council added his delight: "The town council and Ringwood Town FC have long cherished an ambition to improve the football facilities in the town.
"I am delighted that a way has now been found to secure these and that there will soon be capacity for more teams and a greater diversity of provision.
"This is a complicated project involving numerous organisations working together to a common end, but I am convinced that the result will be a clear win for the local people."
