Sunderland AFC legend Kevin Phillips returned to the city to unveil a new Football Foundation Playzone located in Silksworth, a suburb of Sunderland.

The Playzone is designed, with help from the local community, to create more opportunities for people in the local community to play sports and stay active.

On returning to the city and unveiling the new playzone, former striker Kevin Phillips said: “I have brilliant memories of my time in Sunderland, and it’s been great returning here today to open this impressive Football Foundation PlayZone.”
“Watching local charities, like Foundation of Light, use this facility highlights the positive impact that football and other sports can have – especially with a Premier League club like Sunderland on your doorstep.”

Football Foundation Playzones are small-sided facilities which are designed by the local community to host football and other sports, with the new facility in Silksworth being used for football, netball and basketball.

In Silksworth there was also a high demand for the facility amongst the older residents and individuals with disabilities, so the new Playzone will also host walking formats of all three sports selected by the community.

On the importance of Playzones and what they can bring to the community, Jack Matthews, Director of Programmes, Support & Impact at the Football Foundation, said: “we’ve seen that a ‘one-size fits all’ approach isn’t the most effective way to tackle the greatest inequalities to becoming active. That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our PlayZones programme.”

“We’re delivering over 200 Football Foundation PlayZones like the one here in Silksworth across the country. Each one will be shaped by the local community so they can step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them.”

The Playzone project has been brought about due to a grant of £198k from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation alongside an additional £60k from EA SPORTS FC FUTURES™ and £6k from Sunderland City Council.

During the development of the facility, Sunderland City Council’s Active Sunderland team engaged with over 900 local residents to ensure that the project best fitted the needs and wants of the local community.

On the project and what it means for Silksworth, Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council said: “this is all about creating safe, welcoming outdoor spaces that are easy for everyone to use, helping bring people together through sport and play.”

“It’s part of our ongoing commitment to making sport, physical activity and play a key part of community life, the PlayZone will support health and well-being, as well as offering a place for families and friends to connect and enjoy being active together.”

The facility in Silksworth is the first of two Playzones which will be delivered across Sunderland after a total investment of £441k from the Football Foundation.
The second facility will be based in Southwick and is due to open later this year as one of the ‘over 240’ Playzones that the Football Foundation is aiming to deliver.