Hopes £7.5m centre will help youths 'stay out of trouble'

STAPLEFORD FOOTBALL LEGEND AT OFFICIAL OPENING OF COMMUNITY PAVILION

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN

staff and a football legend celebrated the official opening of the new centre at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground

BROXTOWE councillors hope a £7.5 million community and sports centre will help keep young people off the streets and deter them from antisocial behaviour.

Stapleford's new community pavilion at the Hickings Lane Recreation Ground was officially opened on Tuesday with Stapleford football legend and ex-England captain Dave Watson, who started his football career at Notts County, in attendance.

The centre includes a café, nursery, sports changing rooms and classrooms, event spaces and a gym.

The 11-a-side 3G all-weather pitch, named after Dave, and the seven-a-side Mary Earps pitch were funded separately from a £1.4 million grant from the Premier League, The FA and Football Foundation.

Three padel courts are also due to open at the grounds soon.

The site is home to the Steven Gerrard Academy, which opened its first Midlands academy in the town in 2024.