CAMPAIGN FOR COMMUNITY SPORTS CENTRE VICTORY
Campaign
By Boris Mellor
October 1 2008
Arsenal director Ken Friar has announced that due to, "popular demand, a sports centre will replace the proposed cinema and will operate on a similar basis as the former sports centre at Highbury Stadium, offering a high level of access to the local community".
A press release issued on September 29th 2008 stated that "as part of a long term strategy to enhance and further develop Arsenal's award-winning community programme and in response to the Club's public consultation and discussions with Islington Council, a new sports centre has been included in the revised plans for the Queensland Road development." He went on to say that:
Subject to approval and securing a developer for the overall site, a new sports centre is the perfect hub to undertake the Club's extensive range of community activities and strengthen outreach work including after schools projects such as Double Club, Arsenal Soccer Schools and social inclusion initiatives. In addition and by popular demand, the facility will be made available to the local community on a similar basis to the sports centre at Highbury.
Ken Friar, Arsenal FC Director said:
"We have always taken great pride in the work we undertake within the local community and indeed were one of the first football clubs, if not the first, to fund a community department. That was some 24 years ago. Our objective is to push forward in everything we do and part of this progression was listening carefully to the local community and Islington Council. Our conclusion determined that a new sports centre will support and enhance the terrific plethora of community schemes we currently operate as well providing a facility that is made available to the local community to use."
"The revised proposals form the latest phase of the regeneration plans for the area and will contribute to creating a lively and vibrant area around the new stadium, contributing new homes and new facilities for the community."
There is no doubt that the CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMUNITY SPORTS CENTRE played a central role in mobilising local opinion and ensuring that those opinions were heard. Arsenal Times would like to congratulate the campaign and its organiser Ian Shacklock.
Thanks to all those who supported the campaign, it proves that when we unite we can win. There were those who told us we could not win against corporate power have been proven wrong.
