Project to rejuvenate park where football greats learnt to play
Reporter WORK is under way on a multimillion pound project to restore the park where the Charlton brothers and Toon legend Jackie Milburn honed their skills.
The trio reached the pinnacle of English football after learning to kick a ball at Hirst Park in Ashington.
Wor Jackie was arguably the greatest player in Newcastle United’s history, scoring 177 goals in 353 appearances for the club.
And Sir Bobby Charlton enjoyed a glittering 17-year playing career with Manchester United, while his brother Jack won the First Division and FA Cup with Leeds United.
The brothers were also part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team. Now, the first stage of the project is under way to remove a number of trees which are dead, dying, dangerous or in poor health. Northumberland County Council said the work is due to be completed by the end of March. Coun Glen Sanderson, the council’s cabinet member for environment and local services, said: “The restoration of this famous park is excellent news for local residents and the Ashington area. “While we never want to remove trees it’s important that those that are dead, diseased or dangerous are removed, with healthy specimens planted to replace them. This will ensure the remaining trees stay healthy, and create better growing conditions for replacement trees.” Coun Glen Sanderson
Last year, the council secured a £2.29m ‘Parks for People’ grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the 100-year-old park to its former glory.
The work is also supported by grants from the council, the town council and Ashington Leisure Partnership, bringing the total value of the project to £2.7m over the next five years.
As well as helping to inspire the next generation of footballers, the cash will create a new horticultural training centre, water splash zone, facilities for charities and a growing zone.
Funding for the park will also establish an annual Charlton and Milburn Cup tournament, for local youth groups to follow in the footballers’ footsteps.
Jack, who was spotted playing at Hirst Park by scouts from Leeds United, described it as their “very own Wembley”.