Students from six South Tyneside primary schools have helped kick start a new state of the art football pitch, funded with a grant of more than £400,000. 

South Tyneside Council was awarded £426,098 by the Football Foundation to replace the old astro-turf pitch at Temple Park Centre, South Shields. 

Cllr Ernest Gibson takes a penalty at the new pitch against goalkeeper, Cllr Jim Foreman.

The new 3G artificial grass pitch – which also includes floodlights, fencing, paths and storage facilities – was officially launched last week with a competition featuring students from Westoe Crown Primary, St. Oswald’s RC Primary, Stanhope Road Primary, Ridgeway Primary, Harton Primary and SS Peter and Paul RC Primary. 

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Ernest Gibson, was also in attendance, along with representatives from the project contractors Greenfields, the Football Foundation and other key partners. 

Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “The new 3G pitch at Temple Park Centre has been designed to serve as a base for football development for juniors, seniors and the entire South Tyneside Council.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the grant from the Football Foundation and I would like to thank them, Greenfields and all of the other partners who have helped bring our vision to life.” 

The new 3G pitch at Temple Park Centre was open to the public last weekend and the council’s Sport and Leisure Team have also established various partnerships to ensure it will be utilised by sports clubs from across the borough.