A £2.1m community sports facility open to clubs, teams, educational organizations, social groups and individuals of all ages has officially opened its doors in Marston.
The Community Arena, located next to Oxford City Football Club on Marsh Lane, was declared open on Wednesday by former Arsenal and England international footballer, Martin Keown. The facility has a floodlit football pitch, six floodlit netball courts, six changing rooms, a licensed clubhouse and bar, classrooms, meeting rooms, an events room and a large car and coach park.
Councillor Mark Lygo, Oxford City Council's board member for parks and sports, who attended the opening, said: “The idea is to bring the community together and more importantly to leave a lasting sporting legacy for Oxford. There is nothing like this in Oxford, I am extremely happy to see it opening. The facility is important for the regeneration of the area, it is open to everyone but will get kids off the street and give them a facility.”
Cllr Van Coulter, board member for leisure services, told the Guardian: “This facility will provide first class sporting facilities to a range of people of all ages and sexes. The bookings have been looking very favourable, it’s clearly what the community wants. This facility is good for Oxford and good for Oxfordshire. It is significant for the county and is going to stand out in the South East of England.”
Martin Keown, who grew up in Oxford and played for local teams before signing for Arsenal in 1984, cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the new sports centre. He said: “I know a bit about the facilities that existed or didn’t exist in Oxford. I went through the experience of being a young person interested in sport and I am now bringing my kids through the same procedure. Nothing has changed until now. It is great to see a new facility like this opening.
He added: “Anyone who has grown up in Oxford will know you see all these great pictures of the university so it is nice to have something for ourselves.”
The arena is a significant expansion to the facilities at Oxford City Football Club, which was formed in 1882. Brian Cox, the club chairman, said: “Oxford Football Club is 130 years old. This is one great achievement. Along the way there have been many magical moments in the club’s history but nothing like the project we have achieved here today.”
The arena is a result of a collaborative effort between a range of different organizations that provided funding for the facility. The funding was comprised of £732,194 from England’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation, £83,445 from its sister organisation the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, £350,000 from Sports England, £200,000 from The Football Association, £125,000 from Oxford City Council, £40,000 from Oxford Sports Council, £60,000 from England Netball, and £550,000 raised by the football club and Oxfordshire netballers.
