New 3G 7-a-side pitch at Open Academy

Construction of a second artificial grass pitch at The FDC @ Open Academy finished earlier this week.

Works at the facility finished earlier this week in a project that was made possible thanks to a £150,000 grant from the Greater Norwich Growth Board, and funding of £509,823 from The Football Foundation.

The new pitch is a 7v7 sized 3G Artificial Grass Pitch and marks the beginning of improved developments and refurbishments at the facility.

The building of the first artificial grass pitch at the Open Academy in Heartsease started in November 2015 and after a delay, was officially opened at the start of the 2016/17 football season.

The pitches now provide a state-of-the-art football facility that is used by the Open Academy students during the day and the local community during the evenings and weekends.

The improvements have seen the extension of the existing 3G pitch on the south side to incorporate a new 7-a-side pitch, to cater for increased demand in the local area through the facilities partner clubs Sprowston FC and Thorpe St Andrew FC. The new pitch has been equipped with industry-leading goalposts, courtesy of Norfolk County FA lead partner, Harrod Sport.

The next stages of refurbishment at the facility will see further improvements to its hub building, in which the changing rooms and reception area are located. Upon completion of the works, the facility will be used by over 1,000 people per week, providing high quality access to football pitches in Norwich.

Norfolk FA Head of Facilities & Deputy CEO, Ian Grange added: “We are delighted to formally announce the finalisation of work to the new 3G pitch at our FDC facility at Open Academy, and we look forward to seeing increased levels of football played at the site throughout the rest of the season and beyond.

“On behalf of the Association I would like to place on record our thanks to the Football Foundation, the Greater Norwich Growth Board, Norwich City Council and Open Academy for their support in enabling this project to become a reality.”

Members of the local football community hoping to call the upgraded facility ‘home' are encouraged to e-mail TheFDCopen@NorfolkFA.com.