New era starts for vital sports ground
£600,000 SCHEME REVITALISES OLD PLESSEY FACILITIES
AFTER two decades of decline, the old sports ground on the former site of the electronics giant Plessey will finally be restored to its former glory as part of a £600,000 scheme, which starts today.
The nine-acre site in Beeston Rylands was once the stage for the sporting endeavours of the 7,000 staff at Plessey, and their families.
The sports field hails from an era when huge companies took responsibility not just for the employment of local people, but also their recreation.
Plessey, which was later taken over by Ericsson and ultimately Siemens, ran football, cricket, hockey, netball and tennis teams from Trent Vale, on the banks of the River Trent near Beeston Marina, as well as celebrated family fun days.
And after years of decay, which saw buddleia and elder trees take over courts, and football pitches turned into meadows, the fields are alive with sport again, thanks to the Trent Vale Community Sports Association, which incorporates Beeston Football Club and Trent Vale Squash Club.
But despite 250 footballers, plus parents, now using the site regularly, the old pavilion has long since descended into dereliction and there are no changing rooms and only primitive facilities.
However, during the last two years the association has raised almost £600,000 to rebuild the pavilion and replace the perimeter fence, as well as peel back the vegetation.
“This is a fantastic moment,” said Leroy Payne,
Beeston FC treasurer.
“A lot of people have put a huge amount of effort into this project and now here we are... surrounded by hard hats and hard work.
“We are so grateful to those who have supported us, not least the Football Foundation and our local politicians from different parties. At a national level, politicians have a bad rep, but round here they have been brilliant.
“This is going to transform the experience for our existing players, but also create the platform to grow the club, offering football to more girls, boys, men and women, including people with disabilities, in and around Beeston.
“But not only that, the clubhouse includes a community room and we want other groups and sports clubs to join us in the future. This is the start of a new era at Trent Vale.”
The core funder for the scheme is the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, which has contributed £481,000 through the Football Foundation with support from the Nottinghamshire Football Association.
The football club and association has raised the rest with support from parents, players, fundraisers, local businesses and major contributions from Broxtowe Borough Council and Beeston employer, healthcare company, Reckitt Benkiser. Councillor Greg Marshall, chairman of the finance committee at the council, which has approved an investment of £20,000 in the scheme, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity not just for Beeston Rylands and Beeston but for all of Broxtowe. The volunteers have worked incredibly
hard to get to this stage. The council cannot wait to be involved in supporting the growth of this fantastic facility. Everyone involved has done a great job.”
Meanwhile, Reckitt Benkiser is contributing £10,000 over the course of this year and staff will be helping to improve the site.
HR manager Joan Ward said: “This area has been and will be a fantastic asset for the Beeston community, a community that we at operate in, and our employees and their families live in. We want to support and give something back to the local community. We are looking forward to working with the team, in whatever way we can, to bring their vision to life.”
The playing fields were an important part of the industrial site in the Rylands for many years, but when the electronics industry declined in Beeston they were sold off to housing developers with the rest of the site.
However, a covenant prevents building on the land so while the surrounding area is earmarked for light industry, offices and homes, Trent Vale remains for recreational use.
The current landowner, Beeston Business Park, which has also contributed financially to the project, granted TVCSA a 99-year lease in 2018. Since then Beeston FC has steadily improved the site.
“I’ve played for the club for years,” said Matt Hyde, 18, who has played for Beeston FC since he was four and is now the men’s first team goalkeeper.
“It is a big step in the right direction. I always played on council pitches, but to have our own home allows young players to work their way up through the ranks and come together with the adult players, all with one common goal.
“I’m really looking forward to our first game at the new ground, and having a drink in the clubhouse afterwards!”
This is a fantastic moment. Here we are... surrounded by hard hats and hard work
Leroy Payne, Beeston FC