Recent hard work to restore the pitches at Langley Avenue Sports Field, Felixstowe, has allowed Felixstowe and Walton United Football Club’s youth section to return to playing this season.
Felixstowe Town Council, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council have been working together with Felixstowe School and Walton United Football Club to bring the pitches back in to full use following an uncertain period during the pandemic.
Joint Chairman and Director of the football club, Matt Hope, said: “Felixstowe and Walton United Football club would like to express our thanks for the support and assistance of Felixstowe Town Council, Felixstowe School and both East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council in enabling Langley Avenue to be transformed from an area which had become overgrown and not suitable for any sports recreation following COVID, to a suitable venue for football for the community to enjoy. It is heart-warming and encouraging to see what can be achieved through open, transparent dialogue and a desire to provide a community area which will offer sporting opportunities for all assisting in both physical and mental wellbeing”
The field, which is currently owned by Suffolk County Council and linked to Felixstowe School, is home to several much-needed football pitches which the Club are now helping to manage. Following the pandemic, the Club has worked closely with the local councils to deal with the overgrowth and repair a gap in the fence which had allowed encroachment by dog walkers.
Cllr Letitia Smith, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to support the club by working with partners to help bring the pitches at Langley Avenue back into full use. It’s heartening to see the level of interest in grassroots sports participation is as strongly supported as it was before the pandemic. We recently renewed our commitment to improving health and wellbeing by adopting an East Suffolk Leisure Strategy to further ensure that the needs of communities like this one are met by protecting, enhancing and developing facilities across the district.”
The Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Sharon Harkin, said: “The Town Council is delighted to be supporting Felixstowe and Walton United Football Club in restoring the sports field to full use. Initiatives such as this restoration that promote a fitter Felixstowe across all ages, genders and abilities are encouraged. In particular, the world of football has changed forever, everyone is still buzzing from the Lionesses’ win at 2022 European Championships. Creating a legacy that promotes positive change by increasing the opportunities for girls and women playing, refereeing, and coaching women’s football across the country”.
The Town Council and the Club are discussing future improvements to the site and are planning to plant more trees and hedging plants as part of the second phase The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting.
The public are reminded that the field is not designated open space for dog walking and a small minority of owners failing to pick up dog waste on playing pitches can put the health of players at risk. Anyone wishing to access the land for sports use should contact Felixstowe and Walton United Football Club via chairman@felixstowefootball.co.uk.