Countdown to kick-off for Seashell Trust’s 3G community sports pitch

Seashell Trust's 3G pitch is expected to open at the end of this month.

A Stockport disability charity has kicked off its bid to become a centre of inclusive sport as the final touches are being put to its 3G sports pitch.

Seashell Trust has its national centre of excellence in education and care of children and young people with some of the most complex conditions in the country in Cheadle Hulme.

It is adding the all-weather pitch to its campus to improve access to top quality facilities for its disabled students and the community.

The floodlit pitch with accessible changing facilities will be used daily by Seashell’s students and be available for community use up to 10pm in the evenings and at weekends.

The trust will be working closely with their lead partner Cheadle and Gatley Junior FC. The Cheshire FA will also use the pitch for the Ability Counts League, the Stockport Girls’ League and coaching courses.

Michael Ormshaw, Seashell Trust’s head of sport and community development, said: “We are thrilled to see this great new facility completed.

“The pitch will greatly increase the range of physical activity opportunities available to our children and young people with severe learning difficulties and complex needs.

“The pitch also represents another large step in our development of the site to become a centre of excellence for inclusive sport and will be complemented by further facilities in the future.

“I’m especially excited to welcome our local community users.

“It will be great to work with organisations such as Cheadle and Gatley Junior Football Club and the Cheshire FA so we can offer more sporting opportunities to children, young people and adults of all abilities.”

The pitch, constructed by McArdle Sport Tec and Tiger Turf, was financed by the Football Foundation and PZ Cussons and is expected to open in late October.