Football hub will make 'mega difference' - Kamara

Plans for a new football and community hub in Chris Kamara's hometown have been granted funding.

Middlesbrough Football Club (MFC) Foundation was awarded a £100,000 grant from the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund for the development in the Park End area of Middlesbrough.

Former footballer and broadcaster Kamara said the Southlands Centre project, with its upgraded pitches and new community rooms, would make a "mega difference".

Acting Head of MFC Foundation Craig McManus added: "We want it to feel like the biggest living room in the area where people feel like they can just come along and be part of it."

Nine EFL club charities were awarded a share of £520,000 to support community-focused initiatives.

Former Middlesbrough player Kamara told BBC Radio Tees he remembered playing football in the area as a youngster, using jumpers for goalposts.

He said: "When I was growing up obviously people didn't have money, it was a deprived area and it's still, in certain parts of Park End, a deprived area today.

"Things like this can only make them happy."

Kamara added: "Never forget where you're coming from and myself and Steve Gibson [the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club] never, ever forget that."

Mr McManus said the "state-of-the-art" development would have a "wow factor".

"This is about creating lifelong memories and a safe space in the community where people really belong."

Middlesbrough Council and the MFC Foundation are working together on the Southlands Centre.

The timeline of the build would be announced over the next couple of months, Mr McManus said.

"Watch this space," he said.

"There's already that buzz there, so we're just excited to break the ground and get moving."

Other EFL Club charities awarded funding include:

• Norwich City FC Community Foundation won £90,000 towards a scheme that aims to reduce isolation by training volunteers of all ages
• Wigan Athletic Community Trust won £30,000 for its Adult Disability Football Programme
• Swindon Town FC Foundation won funding for solar panels at Foundation Park
• Preston North End Community Trust won funding for its Back in the Game project
• Burnley in the Community received funding to help adults boost their employability

The EFL said the remaining Club charities awarded funding would be announced shortly.

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