A NEW changing room pavilion which will be used by sports clubs in South Wonston was officially opened in style.

Doing the honours was Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy who managed the club for 12 years including the club's famous 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester United in 1976.

The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund contributed £100,000 to the project, with further funding received from South Wonston Parish Council, Hampshire County Council, the Armed Forces Community Covenant and the M&S Community Energy Fund.

The grant has enabled the South Wonston Parish Council to build a brand new state-of-the-art changing room pavilion to be used by several local grassroots teams, including South Wonston Swifts FC The new facility comprises: two team changing rooms; an officials’ changing room; clubroom; kitchen facilities and storage space. The new pavilion has been installed with ground source heating and is equipped with solar panels that help to improve the facility’s long-term green credentials.

Lawrie McMenemy MBE said: “Today was a great opportunity to witness the fantastic work being carried out at the grassroots level by the Football Foundation, thanks to a grant that they delivered on behalf of the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

“The changing room pavilion here will provide an outstanding facility to accommodate the club’s many youth and senior players for decades to come.

"It is vital that the thousands of people who play at the very lowest levels of the game every single week, have access to quality facilities to enjoy the sport they love.

“My role as a Football Foundation Ambassador allows me to witness the brilliant work that is being done to develop grassroots sport right across the country and I would like to thank the Premier League, The FA and the Government through Sport England for their continued investment, which has enabled this project here in South Wonston to come to fruition.”

Chairman of the South Wonston Parish Council June Perrins was delighted to see the new facilities opened.

Cllr Perrins said: “So many local people have worked hard for so long to achieve the dream of building a new pavilion, this is everything you could wish for from a facility like this. It was wonderful to see the sports pavilion completed and we were delighted that Lawrie was able to join us and open the new pavilion.

"The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund have been supportive of our plans throughout the process and the grant award enables us to continue our work to improve grassroots sports for all.”