The Milton Keynes-born football star Leah Williamson opened a community pitch named after her in Newport Pagnell last week.

The England football captain and Arsenal defender opened the Leah Williamson Pitch in an event at Newport Pagnell Town football club last Tuesday (13/08), with the pitch built and opened following a grant from the Premier League, the FA and the UK Government’s Football Foundation.

The pitch in Newport Pagnell is one of the first to be opened under the grant, which has been named the Lionesses Futures Funds, and is intended to help to provide women and girls across the country gain access to gold standard facilities and experiences, through reserved peak-time slots and welcoming changing rooms.

Newport Pagnell’s site was one of 14 across England to receive funding directly from the Lionesses Futures Fund grant, with community pitches being opened and named after players who helped England win the 2022 Women’s Euros and reach the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final.

The grant is part of a greater approach to improve at least 30 facilities across the country to help women and girls have access to football pitches. Figures released by the FA found that 68,000 more girls are playing football compared to before England won the 2022 Euros but that badly lit pitches, unsuitable changing facilities and late-night kick-off times can put women and girls off taking to the pitch. 

In a statement, Williamson said, “It is such an honour to be here to see one of the first Lionesses Futures Fund pitches come to life, something I know the squad is incredibly proud of. This pitch will provide the very best playing experience for local women and girls, ensuring they can play at decent times and on a state-of-the-art pitch.

“To meet some of the players who will get the opportunity to lace up their boots to play on this great pitch has been magic! I feel so proud to be a Lioness and proud of the whole team for inspiring women and girls to play football.”

Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation, added, “It’s a real pleasure to be here to unveil one of the first 3G pitches that a Lionesses Futures Fund Grant has made possible. For the pitch to be named after local footballing legend Leah Williamson in recognition of the Lionesses recent successes will be incredibly inspiring for the players here at Newport Pagnell Town.

“This Fund builds on the Football Foundation’s biggest ever commitment to providing equal access to grassroots facilities for women and girls.

“Over 8,500 women’s and girls’ football teams were playing at sites that have benefitted from Football Foundation funding last season, whether that be for new goalposts, improved grass pitches or brand-new changing pavilions and 3G pitches.

“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.”

The government’s Sports Minister, Stephanie Peacock, also said, “Thousands more women and girls are playing football since the Lionesses lifted the Women’s EURO 2022 trophy, so building welcoming facilities for them to get on the pitch is now more important than ever.

“As captain of the Lionesses, Leah Williamson has provided leadership both on and off the pitch and this facility in Newport Pagnell will give many more women and girls the chance to follow in her footsteps.”