Southwark Council, together with the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation, have proudly opened the doors to the eagerly awaited, Burgess Park Sports Centre, "to encourage more local people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in sports.
With the Football Foundation awarding £2.4 million in match funding, Burgess Park Sports Centre has undergone a complete transformation. The site now boasts two full-size artificial grass pitches, doubling the previous capacity, and a new pavilion with modern facilities for players, coaches, and the wider sporting community.
In addition, the Council has funded a fully accessible outdoor basketball court broadening the centre’s sporting offer and opening more opportunities for residents to get active.
The new facility marks the Council and the Football Foundation joint commitment to expand and improve local football provision. Guided by Southwark’s Playing Pitch Strategy, which identified a shortage of football playing space, the Council committed capital funding to grow its football offer, including at Burgess Park and plans for a new 5-a-side football centre at Brimmington Park.
The design of the new centre was shaped by the views of local sports clubs and community groups, ensuring it meets the real needs of those who use it. The new pavilion includes improved sightlines from the community room to the pitches, storage space for equipment, touchdown areas for club officials, and flexible community spaces.
The investment comes at a time of rapid growth in grassroots football, particularly following the success of the Lionesses and the surge of interest in women's and girls' football. Burgess Park Sports Centre has already embraced this growth, with programmes supporting the local Latin American women’s football league, a weekend grassroots girls’ league, and new sessions for female and LGBTQ+ players.
Burgess Park is also home to the BMX Track London, one of the largest BMX tracks in the UK.
Cllr Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: "This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when councils work in partnership with organisations like the Football Foundation to invest in grassroots sport. We know how powerful football can be in bringing communities together, improving physical and mental health, and creating opportunities for young people. By delivering high-quality, accessible facilities right here in Southwark, we are investing in our residents, helping nurture local talent, and creating safe, inclusive spaces for everyone to enjoy the game.
“The Football Foundation’s backing has been instrumental in making this vision a reality, and we’re grateful for their support in opening this new space.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“We’re delighted that the local community in Southeast London will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at Burgess Park.”
For more information about Burgess Park Sports Centre and how to book facilities, visit: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/find-park/burgess-park
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