The Sandbrook Road playing fields in Woodvale in Southport will be revamped with a quarter of a million pounds investment.
The funding will come through a new programme called “Home Advantage”, the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity.
The organisation delivers grassroots sports facilities, helping transform communities where the need is greatest, and the impact will be strongest.
It will enable the demolition of existing changing facilities on site at Sandbrook Road, to be replaced by a new purpose-built facility, whilst retaining the use of services including water and electricity.
There would be an improved specification of grounds maintenance for the pitches, to exceed the standard programme offering currently provided by Sefton Council.
Players will be able to enjoy new welfare facilities, with toilet provision and on site catering being a priority.
Sefton would seek to secure the site with security improvements to the boundaries to prevent unauthorised access.
The scheme will continue to allow public access, whilst prioritising use of the pitches for junior sport, working closely with the Liverpool County FA and Green Sefton.
Sefton Council is due to agree a 25-year lease to Hightown Junior Football League Ltd (HJFL), the main local provider of junior football.
Sefton Council said they believe “there are considerable benefits” to the proposals.
The issue will be decided by Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills and Deputy Leader Cllr Paulette Lappin.
A Sefton Council report said: “Liverpool County FA approached Green Sefton to consider the Council’s support for making a bid under a new programme called “Home Advantage” for the improvement of the sports facilities at Sandbrook Road Playing Fields, Southport and asked that the Council agree to make a submission.
“Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing in September 2023 instructed officers to make an EOI (Expression of Interest), which was undertaken, and whilst the Council were not successful to be considered in Year 1, the Football Foundation advised that they would welcome Sefton Council progressing a Year 2 submission for the programme.
“The County FA have made known that the Sandbrook Road Changing Rooms is deemed by them to be a priority site for improving the provision of facilities in Sefton.
“The changing rooms are currently derelict and whilst previously the site was substantially used by a large number of junior teams, the site is currently out of use for football.
“The need to improve and safeguard this site is also reflected in the Council’s aspirations in our Local Playing Pitch Strategy.
“The Football Foundation programme known as Home Advantage, seeks to make available funding of up to £250,000 for playing field sites and since mid-2024 Sefton Council has worked with the County FA and the Hightown League desire in order to progress a bid with them. The funding is only obtainable if a League or Club assume the management responsibility for a site, leasing a site to enable works and the release of funds. Hightown Junior Football League Ltd (HJFL) is the main local provider of junior football, and it is proposed that as part of securing funding of up to £250,000 the football pitches and any facilities be leased to them.
“There are, we believe, considerable benefits. Further to submitting the EOI, the Council and HJFL were informed in May 2025 that the EOI submission was successful.
“The key advantages of this programme include:
“Offering funds of up to £250,000 to replace changing rooms and provide new modernised fit for purpose facilities. Home Advantage funding is a 100% contribution from the Football Foundation to complete works; no partnership funding is required by Sefton Council to provide facilities.
“It will end all poor health practices, sadly there is a large number of children with no access to toilets or welfare facilities.
“It will lead to a reduction of costs for the Council as well as making the site more inclusive and run more effectively.
“It will give one of our largest leagues a sense of personal control and ownership of issues.”
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