One of the biggest schools in Brighton and Hove has drawn up plans for an all-weather sports pitch, changing rooms and floodlights.
Cardinal Newman Catholic School, in The Upper Drive, Hove, is holding a drop-in event later this week to show how the astroturf pitch could look.
The principal James Kilmartin said that the school would be keen to offer use of the pitch to local sports teams across the area.
Dr Kilmartin said: “We know from our own experience and from the findings of the city council that clubs are under-served in terms of all-weather facilities and we look forward to helping fill the unmet demand for quality artificial grass pitches.
“We are so pleased to bring forward our plans for this new pitch and hope that the availability of an additional all-weather surface will inspire our students and more young people across the city to participate in sport more frequently.
“We very much hope muddy winter pitches will become a thing of the past.”
Cardinal Newman has an impressive sporting record locally and nationally.
Former students including the Olympic 1,500m finalist Charlie Grice, Ireland rugby player Frankie Taggart and Brighton and Hove Albion footballers Grant Hall and Joe Gatting. Gatting also played first class cricket and Josh Poysden still does. Ryan Moore is a former champion jockey and PE teacher Julia Machin has twice represented England in the high jump at the Commonwealth Games.
Recent team achievements include the Newman Rugby Academy winning the AoC (Association of Colleges) National Championships in April 2019.
And in May last year the school’s boys football team reached the final of the ESFA (English Schools’ Football Association) U13 National Schools Cup.
Dr Kilmartin said: “We are extremely proud of our student sportsmen and sportswomen and hope the availability of a state-of-the-art pitch will nurture continued dedication to sport at our school.”
The school intends to submit a planning application to create the all-weather pitch on land at the corner of The Upper Drive and Old Shoreham Road.
The school said that it was consulting parents and neighbours beforehand, adding: “We will be holding a drop-in public exhibition at the school in the Chapel on Thursday 11 July between 4pm and 7pm.
“School governors and the project architects (Brighton firm Morgan Carn) will be on hand to discuss the proposed development and to answer any questions.”
