THERE is just over a month to go before the launch of a new £2.1m community arena at Oxford City Football Club, which will provide much-needed new football and netball facilities.

The club’s Court Place Farm ground in Marsh Lane, Marston, is being transformed into the Community Arena in a £2.1m development which will include a full-size artificial grass pitch, pavilion and new 80-space car park, together with six floodlit netball courts.

Oxford City Football Club’s volunteer managing director Colin Taylor said: “This is not just for Oxford City, it’s a facility for the whole of Oxford, and now this is on players’ doorsteps it means they won’t have to drive across to venues like Tilsley Park in Abingdon for a game of five-a-side.”

Another area of development will focus on education, which has been expanded by the launch of the Oxford Football Partnership with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and the Premier Sports Group.

It provides full-time educational courses linked with football coaching, and more than 50 students are based at the club with more apprentices being recruited.

The arena has been funded through the Football Foundation, which paid £900,000, and England Netball, Sport England, Oxford Sports Council, as well as Oxford City Council.

But some funding has also come from sponsorship and donations, with guests at the Oxfordshire Business Awards gala dinner in June raising more than £3,500 to equip a lounge area for members of the Casuals disabled team and their families.

Mr Taylor added: “We have had a huge amount of interest in the new facilities and local clubs like Marston Saints and Summertown Stars have already been on the phone to ask if they can book the pitch for training.

“Boys’ and girls’ football teams want to play here and we have even had an inquiry from the Oxford University lacrosse team.

“The funding, including £900,000 from the Football Foundation and £350,000 from Lottery-backed Sport England, was confirmed 18 months ago and construction work by local firms began in January.

“The top surface for the netball courts started at the weekend and everything should be ready by mid-November.”

One young Oxford City player looking forward to playing on the new 3G pitch is eight-year-old Callan Duckett, from Marston.

He said: “I am really looking forward to training and playing on the new pitch.”

His mum Nicola, 31, an accounts assistant, added: “Oxford City is a great club and Callan has been playing for them since he was four and now he is in an under-nine’s side.

“The new facilities look very impressive and the project has been completed quite quickly. It should attract a load more people.”

Phil Clarke, 27, who works for a chemicals company in Oxford, plays five-a-side with friends at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre every Wednesday night.

He said: “We have had this slot for the past eight years and you have to hang on to them because they are not that many pitches.

“It is good to hear a new pitch is about to open.”

Sue Blackshaw, facilities coordinator for Oxfordshire Netball, said: “From January, the Oxfordshire netball league will operate from these new courts.

“Many clubs have had to put up with pitches that have poor surfaces and these new facilities, including the changing rooms, will transform netball at club level in the county.”

Mark Lygo, city council board member for parks and sports, said: “I am really looking forward to the new community area at Oxford City opening.

“This will bring together football and netball facilities as well as potentially attracting other sports with the artificial floodlit football pitches and netball courts.

“This will be a great asset to the city and provide a central point for sport in the community.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk * To find out more about the arena visit communityarena.co.uk