The Premier League chipped in towards the cost of a new all-weather pitch for youngsters in Portslade.
The pitch is already being used by students from the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) as well as local clubs Hangleton Rangers and Mile Oak Wanderers and their 28 youth football teams.
The council said: “The new surface has been funded by the Premier League, the FA and government’s Football Foundation and Brighton and Hove City Council.
“After netting a £341,640 grant from the Football Foundation, work begun in June to replace the previous synthetic pitch which had reached the end of its usable life.
“The pitch was officially opened by Portslade councillor Alan Robins, chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee.”
Councillor Robins, who is also the deputy mayor of Brighton and Hove, said: “The old pitch was well used but worn out and in dire need of replacement.
“We now have a fantastic, first-class playing surface to grow and develop grassroots football and improve the health and physical activity of residents in the city.
“I’d like to thank the Premier League, the FA and government’s Football Foundation for their support which has made this possible.”
The pitch is operated by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the council.
The council said: “It is hoped that the new pitch and associated football development plan will be able to support the delivery of community-based sessions for improving health and fitness for all age groups including supporting sessions for local children or adults with disabilities from the local community.”
Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Grassroots sport plays an important role in communities across the UK, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
“That’s why I am delighted that Portslade Sports Centre has now opened its state-of-the-art 3G pitch, thanks to investment from the Football Foundation.
“Continuing to improve access to high-quality facilities like this one is a key aim for the Premier League, the FA and the government.
“Delivered by the Football Foundation, their funding supports projects for clubs and organisations all over the country and is helping to boost the number of people benefiting from sport through better facilities.”
This is all very nice for football players but is killing off hockey in Sussex. This pitch used to be the home for Southwick Hockey and Honeybees Hockey but both have been forced to find a pitch out of the area. This is sadly a continuing pattern as England Hockey have no money to put up to save astro pitches which are being phased out virtually everywhere. I don’t understand why a multi sport surface could not be used to maintain a diverse sports offering.