Reading FC Manager and Sir John Madejski open new Bulmershe Sports Pavilion
Release Date 29 October 2015
Reading Football Club manager Steve Clarke and University Chancellor Sir John Madejski have officially opened a stunning new sports pavilion at Bulmershe Court.
Community groups and university students will reap the benefits of the £3m Bulmershe Pavilion which has been designed to meet Football Association specifications. Teams will have access to state-of-the-art facilities which include individual changing rooms, toilets and showers.
The pavilion will be used during the week by the university football teams and by local community clubs at weekends. It also houses a ‘club room' which is available for community groups.
University of Reading Chancellor and Reading FC co-chairman Sir John Madejski said: "This new pavilion is absolutely fantastic, not only for university teams but also local clubs as well - a real win-win for the community. Facilities like this are vital for encouraging grassroots football and generating stars of the future."
Steve Clarke, Reading Football Club Manager, said: "This is everything you could wish for from a facility like this. The better the facility the more likely it is that people will come along and use it every weekend. Hopefully it will breed talented players who in the future will talk about the Bulmershe Pavilion as the place where it all started for them - and that's what you want in football.
"Reading is a very community orientated football club. The more links the senior club can have with the area and local community, the better it is for everyone involved."
During the event community coaches from Reading FC and Woodley United FC put youngsters from local clubs through their paces by giving a special football workshop.
Mark Rozzier, Woodley United FC Chief Executive, added: "The University of Reading is to be congratulated on the support it has given to the community of Woodley through the development of the new pavilion. The quality of the pitches and pavilion has been well received by Woodley United FC. Teams of all ages enjoy using the site and being able to play their football locally, rather than the club having to look outside of the town for pitches."
Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "We were delighted that Steve and Sir John could join us for the opening of this wonderful new pavilion. Our aim is to always build facilities that we can be proud of now and in the future. The pavilion not only demonstrates the University's commitment to sport, but also to the community."
The Bulmershe Pavilion replaces the changing room facilities which were part of the University's Bulmershe Campus which closed in 2013.
For more information about the pavilion contact the University of Reading's SportsPark.