Uefa giving new football pitch to city

WORK has begun on creating a new football pitch in Cardiff – which Uefa is giving to the city ahead of the Champions League final.

The biggest event in club football will be held in the Welsh capital on June 3. Hundreds of thousands of people – and millions of pounds – will come to the city when the final is held at the Principality Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed the National Stadium of Wales for rights reasons.

The city, like other host cities before it, is being given a state-of-the-art, all weather “maxi pitch” by organisers Uefa.

A number of sites were assessed but Grange Gardens in Grangetown was selected as the final site. Work began this week and it will be officially opened in the week of the final.

It is hoped the pitch will help boost physical activity.

David Griffiths, president of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), said: “Hosting the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Women’s Champions League Finals in Cardiff gives the FAW an opportunity to further enthuse and excite the people of Wales, encourage them to get involved in football, and enrich lives through regular participation in team sports.

“The positive impacts of football are powerful and far reaching. Football has the power to directly influence health and well-being, crime and social cohesion.

“An all-weather pitch such as this being donated to Grangetown, gives the local community a top-level sports facility that can be used all year round.

“I’m confident that such a facility, located equidistant between the host stadiums of the two finals, will serve to inspire more local youngsters to take up the sport.”

Cardiff council cabinet member Peter Bradbury said: “As well as being a great opportunity to showcase Cardiff to the world, this new pitch means that hosting the Uefa Champions League Finals will have a lasting legacy for sport in the city.

“Top quality community facilities can have a real impact on levels of participation and I like to think that before long we could see the next Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey developing their skills, right here in Grangetown.”

Rebecca Evans, minister for public health, said: “When we talk about encouraging grassroots sport and physical activity, this pitch is an example of what we mean – facilities that are available for the community all year around.

“The staging of the Uefa Champions League finals in Cardiff will be of huge significance for the city and I welcome this lasting gift to Cardiff from Uefa and the FAW.”