The official opening of Ballafletcher sports ground and changing rooms will take place at 1pm tomorrow (Saturday, April 2). Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure will be joined by invited guests to open the ?2.4million facility near Noble’s Hospital, Braddan. The development comprises four full sized sports pitches designed for winter soccer or rugby use on two engineered and drained platforms. The top platform also incorporates a synthetic and grass cricket wickets for summer use. In addition, there is a fully engineered mini-soccer pitch and two levelled areas which could be used for either mini-soccer or training once developed fully. Use of the sports pitches at Ballafletcher has been allocated by IoM Sport to Vagabonds RUFC (two pitches and cricket wickets); Corinthians AFC (one pitch) and Douglas Royal AFC (one pitch). The project was financed with the help of a ?351,680 grant from the Football Foundation. Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the UK Government via Sport England, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity. Launched in July 2000, the Foundation celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and has so far supported around 8,000 community sports projects worth ?947m. Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, said: ‘The provision of new pitches in the east of the Island was identified as a priority in the Isle of Man Sports and Recreation Strategy 2002 to 2012 and the opening marks the culmination of a decade of work. ‘It shows what can be achieved by teamwork, with both Government departments and sports clubs working together to make it happen. I hope and believe it will play a major part in sporting fixtures for many years.’ Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: ‘We are delighted that the clubs and the local community will have access to these fantastic new facilities and commend the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, Ballafletcher Sports Centre Limited and the Isle of Man County FA for their hard work in making this happen. ‘Sport is playing a central role in helping people to stay fit, strengthen communities and promote responsibility amongst young people. This is the latest example of thousands of projects across the country that the Football Foundation is supporting with money provided by our funding partners the Premier League, the FA and Government.’ ENDS