The construction phase of works to replace the football pitch at the Thurston Drive Kettering site was launched on 3 March 2025, marking a key milestone following the award of £1.021 million transformational project funding.
Funding for the 3G pitch, along with a refurbished pavilion, comprised a Northamptonshire Football Association award of £50,000, a North Northamptonshire Council award of £150,000, and a Premier League, FA and Government’s Football Foundation award of £810,330 through The Lionesses Futures Fund.
Like every Lionesses Futures Fund site, the new pitch at Kettering will prioritise access for women and girls through reserved peak-time slots and welcoming changing facilities to create a best-in-class experience.
Councillor Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sports, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, met with works contractors and representatives from Northamptonshire FA and the Football Foundation to kick-start the initial works, which start with the replacement of the current artificial football pitch with a new state-of-the-art 3G all-weather astroturf pitch, equipped with new fencing, LED floodlights and a spectator area.
Cllr Helen Howell stated “A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to the construction stage of the Thurston Drive Kettering football pitch replacement and pavilion refurbishment project.
“This is a fantastic collaboration between all parties looking to find the best outcome for the much-needed refurbishment of this site in the heart of Kettering. I’d like to thank our funding partners, the Football Foundation and Northamptonshire Football Association, as well as the council’s Leisure Services team, for the most impressive progress to date.
“I’m thrilled to be able to launch the football pitch replacement construction phase of the project, which when completed, will serve as a fantastic footballing leisure resource for not only women, and girls but the wider local community groups for years to come”.
“I can’t wait to see the site brought back into use, it is a much-needed site, and this collaboration goes to show what can be achieved together”.
Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council, stated “Thanks to recent achievements of the England women’s football team and the Football Foundation’s grant, the council and Northamptonshire Football Association can play their part in delivering top-quality facilities for women and girls at Thurston Drive Kettering with a view to supporting the next generation of Lionesses”.
Kirsty Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Northamptonshire Football Association, stated “As the future operator of this site, Northamptonshire FA will be watching with excitement as the contractors bring the new pitch to life. We’re all hugely optimistic about the role this site can play to inspire the next generation of Lionesses and helping to deliver the priorities in our Create the Feeling grassroots football strategy”.
Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation stated “Thanks to the funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government, we’re delivering 30 pitches like this across the country to support the growing demand for football we’ve seen following the Lionesses’ inspirational success.”
“Like all Lionesses Futures Fund sites, the new 3G pitch at Kettering will provide a safe, accessible and welcoming place to play for the local community in Kettering to lace up their boots.”
The replacement of the current pitch forms the first phase of the construction works and will be followed by the refurbishment of the Thurston Drive Kettering sports pavilion.
The pavilion, built in the 1980s, supports the Kettering Town Harriers Athletics Club on the Thurston Drive Kettering site as well as users of the football pitch, and will be improved with new changing facilities, an athletics club room and a café.
The construction work on the pavilion is expected to begin in April 2025.
