Bude Park will soon have much-improved football facilities thanks to investment from the Premier League, the FA, and the government’s Football Foundation.
The Football Foundation identified Bude Park as a potential improvement site.
The project, submitted last summer, features a full-size pitch, six junior pitches, a changing pavilion, and a 50-space car park, along with three motorcycle bays and 10 cycle stands.
Foredyke Area Committee and Hull City Council’s Capital Programme have also contributed to the project, in addition to the Football Foundation.
After the work is completed, Kingswood United will continue to use the playing fields as its home ground and will remain a member of the project team.
Cllr Rob Pritchard, the council’s portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: “This is fantastic news for the local footballing community, providing top notch facilities for it and residents.
“I would like to thank the Football Foundation for awarding us this valuable funding and I look forward to seeing it progress.”
In order for the fields to be ready for use for football matches, they must first undergo a 12-month period of non-activity.
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.
“This grant awarded to Hull City Council towards developing Bude Park football facilities is great news for the local community.”
Founded in 2019, Kingswood United currently has 620 registered players across 34 teams, including junior and adult teams for men and women.
Club founder, Paul Richardson, said: “This development is great news for all the children and volunteers associated with Kingswood United.
“This is something we’ve been keen to see since we first formed in 2019.
“The improvements to the playing pitches and changing facilities will help sustain our future and create a higher quality environment for our club to grow and a pathway from junior to senior football.
“Expanding the car park will help relieve congestion on game days and ensure a safer facility for children arriving and leaving the site, emphasising our driving force as a club and making it a more enjoyable experience for all.”
