NEW £1.4M SPORTS CENTRE OPENS AT FIELD END REC–
A NEW £1.4 million multi-purpose sports centre has been opened at the Field End Recreation Ground, in Ruislip.
Opened on Tuesday, the building will provide a home for Bessingby Park Rangers Football Club and Ruislip and District Amateur Boxing Club.
It includes a large sports hall, which will house a full boxing ring and training area with punch bags, with dividers which can be used to partition the hall for five-a-side football and social events.
There are also shower facilities, a large kitchen and seating area and a large terrace overlooking Field End Recreation Ground.
The site now also benefits from disabled access, bicycle stands, a car park and a new access road.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Councillor Ray Puddifoot, said with youths shunning traditional youth groups for sports and skills classes, the council had a new focus on increasing access to these.
He said: “I’m very pleased the council is able to make the financial investment to help and support these two clubs.
“Together they are making a profound and positive impact on young people’s lives, local communities and the borough.”
The building replaces a dilapidated facility which had sat on the same site since 1952.
Fiona Donaghue, chairman of Bessingby Park Rangers Football Club, said: “Field End Recreation Ground has been our home for more than 25 years.
“The new clubhouse is a fantastic facility, which will bring our community of more than 300 kids together on a weekly basis.”
Head coach Derek Hobbs, coach Terry Hobbs and administrator Sue Hobbs at Ruislip & District Amateur Boxing Club described the building as “state of the art”.