Foundation team up with Kevin Phillips to unveil new Football Foundation PlayZone in Silksworth

Sunderland AFC legend Kevin Phillips cut the ribbon on a brand new Football Foundation PlayZone in Silksworth, Sunderland, designed to create more opportunities for the local community to play sports and stay active.

The project has been made possible thanks 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.

Football Foundation PlayZones are small-sided facilities designed by the local community to host football as well as a variety of other sports. Sunderland City Council’s Active Sunderland team have led the development and engaged with over 900 local residents, to understand what the community wanted to see included. The new PlayZone in Silksworth Park will be used for football, netball and basketball.

Community engagement also identified a strong demand for the facility from older residents and individuals with disabilities in the surrounding area. As a result, the new PlayZone will host walking formats of all three sports.

Former Sunderland player 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.

“Thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government's Football Foundation, along with EA SPORTS, this facility will provide a safe and welcoming place to play and support healthier lives here in Silksworth.”

Jack Matthews, Director of Programmes, Support & Impact at the Football Foundation, said:

“Thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government through Sport England, the Football Foundation has been investing in great places to play for 25 years.

“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.”

“EA SPORTS FC FUTURES is built on a belief in football’s power to drive positive change in communities,” said James Salmon, Senior Director FC Brand Activation.

“Through our community impact programme, FC FUTURES, we’re proud to support projects like the Football Foundation PlayZone here in Silksworth – creating inclusive spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can play, learn, and connect through the sport they love. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when football comes together for local communities.”

Jamie Wright, Chief Operating Officer at the Foundation of Light, said:

“These facilities give local people the opportunity to access high quality facilities. The support the Premier League and the Football Foundation give communities is phenomenal, this is a clear example of how they invest in improving facilities and access.

"We're already committed to delivering Premier League Kicks, a youth intervention programme, from this facility where we will use the power of football and sport to engage with young people and tackle underlying issues within communities.”

This is one of two PlayZones due to be delivered across Sunderland, thanks to total £441k investment from the Football Foundation. The other facility, based in Southwick, is due to open later this year.

To find out more about the Football Foundation PlayZones programme, visit: footballfoundation.org.uk/playzones-programme