Manchester United star Daley Blind and former midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger officially broke the ground for a brand new full-sized all-weather pitch, and floodlit 5-a-side Multi Use Games Area, at Manchester Health Academy in Baguley

The £1m project into improving the Academy’s sports facilities has been supported by a £386,000 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.

Manchester Health Academy’s site currently benefits from a community gym, sports halls, large playing field, an all-weather pitch and Brooklands Public Library, with on-site parking for Academy staff and users of the community facilities.

The next phase of work will see the addition of the new full-sized all-weather pitch and floodlit 5-a-side Multi Use Games Area, plus additional parking opening in the Autumn. This is great news for the area and local amateur clubs, to whom the facility will open outside school hours.

The support from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund builds upon its significant investment in Manchester towards grassroots sports facilities, which the Fund replicates in all regions across the country. Since 2000, the Football Foundation Funding Partners’ investment has provided 65 grants worth £16m towards grassroots sports projects worth over £37m across the whole of Manchester. Nationally, the Foundation has helped invest more than £1.4bn into the grassroots game.

Principal Damian Owen said: “Securing funding for these new facilities is something that I’m very proud of.  Manchester Health Academy strives for excellence in teaching, learning and facilities.  The plans for these new pitches meet FA criteria, allowing our students and the local community to enjoy their sports on top class, professional standard pitches.”

The Academy is currently investing £10 million to transform its estate, including a new dedicated English and maths block and new dining room to welcome new students into the Academy as part of their expansion programme.