Bully chuffed to open new £1.3 million football centre

The 5's Pavilion & Sports Ground will now be used by footballers in Hednesford for decades to come after nearly £1 million was invested by Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council in a joint venture.

The ground has been built on the site of the former West Cannock Sports and Social Club in Bradbury Lane.

Former England striker Bully said: "When people ask me to do things I am very, very particular but when it comes to things like this, getting people on the way and picking the community up, I jump it all day long."

He said young players in the Cannock Chase area should treasure their facility – and compared it to what he grew up with.

He said: "All we had was a little island in the street. All they have to do is work hard and respect it."

Another £390,000 was donated by Sport England to complete the project. The current pitch is likely to last for about 10 to 15 years before it will need to be resurfaced.

The leader of Cannock Chase District Council, Councillor George Adamson, said: "This has been a derelict site for years and it's transformed it.

"People are just queuing up to use it now. This is a great community asset and, as well as the community building, it is really going to transform this part of Hednesford and hopefully help people live healthy lifestyles."

Staffordshire County Council's portfolio holder for communities and the environment Councillor Gill Heath also attended the opening, along with rising stars from West Hill Primary School.

Councillor Heath said: "It's just an excellent facility and I am so pleased.

"As well as the football it's good for general wellbeing and healthy outcomes for the whole community and it's a pleasure to be at the launch."

The former sports club site had been unused from 2008. Its pavilion had been vandalised and its social club was derelict at that time.

Work on the project began last spring.