Paralympian Richard Whitehead and ex-England international footballer Laura Bassett open new 3G artificial pitches

Two stars of sport with strong connections to Nottinghamshire helped unveil new 3G artificial grass pitches that form phase one of a sports and wellbeing hub.

Newark and Sherwood YMCA officially opened the pitches that are part of a Sports Community Village on Monday.

Double amputee Paralympian runner Richard Whitehead, who used to live in Lowdham, and ex-England international footballer Laura Bassett, who played for Notts County Women, were the stars at the opening.

Whitehead said it was a great honour to be at the event and spoke of his career.

He also worked for the YMCA as a counsellor in Connecticut in the US.

“That got me thinking about my experiences of the YMCA and their core values,” he said.

“This is a facility that is available to everybody ­— a lasting legacy for the next generation.”

With the first phase of the £13m development, next to the Newark Sports and Fitness Centre completed, an athletics track, carpark, temporary changing hub and embankment works are taking shape.

A third phase will include a cycle track, skate park and tennis courts.

The aim of the development is not only to improve individual sporting prowess and propel teams up the league standings, but to promote healthy living through a building offering clubs and education and support.

Mr Whitehead spoke about how, when completed, it would be a bipartisan facility helping sport and health and wellbeing in the community.

He said the facilities would help people achieve their sporting dreams.

“Athletics used to be something I could only dream about,” he said.

“I remember my first set of prosthetic legs and running my first steps on the streets of Newark and Sherwood ­— 12 to 13 years later, I am a double Paralympic winner.”

Laura Bassett, who has 63 England caps, described environment and role models as key to development and referenced the site’s past history as a sports and social club.

She likened it to the start of her own footballing career and reminisced about how she used to have cheese on toast before getting the goalposts out at the sports and social club where her dad was involved before training.

She said the next great footballer could come from the academy, You Can Do Sport, that is based at the Magnus C of E Academy and uses the pitches.

Newark Town Mayor, Mr Tony Roberts, district council chairman, Mr Keith Walker and cut the ribbon to officially open the pitches.

The chief executive of the YMCA, Mr Will Wakefield said the project, which he described as both ambitious and inclusive, had reached a significant milestone.

The pitches were made possible by a £1/2 m grant from the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund. The grant was awarded to Newark and Sherwood YMCA by the Football Foundation.

It enabled two full-size floodlit 106m x 70m 3G pitches, one of which would be suitable for play in the national league system.