This month marks the public opening of the new football hub within the grounds of Derby Racecourse — a significant milestone for development partner Alliance Leisure, as it represents the company’s 250th completed project since its launch 25 years ago.

The new £8.4 million facility, designed and developed by Alliance Leisure on behalf of Derby City Council, features a reception area, café, three multi-use rooms, a Changing Places toilet, and additional washrooms. Externally, the project has delivered additional car parking, an outdoor play area, an outdoor gym, a basketball training court, and landscaped surroundings to enhance the overall environment.

Serving as a central hub for the wider football facility, the building is linked to existing changing rooms and supports the use of three newly constructed, full-sized 3G turf pitches (FTPs) and a refurbished FTP. Developed through the Football Foundation pitch framework, these pitches will host hundreds of matches every weekend, offering vital sporting infrastructure for the local community.

Procured through the UK Leisure Framework, this project was developed in partnership with Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, Universal Civils and Build, and Abacus Project Management.

This has been an incredible project. The community will now be able to enjoy playing and watching ‘the beautiful game’ year round. Built within the grounds of Derby Racecourse, we worked with some incredible partners on this project, delivered through the UK Leisure Framework, including architects Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, Universal Construction and Abacus Project Management to create a sports hub that will serve the community for many years to come.

Will Gardner
Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure

This project has been an excellent example of successful partnership working. Alliance Leisure, working through the UK Leisure Framework, has brought expertise to this development at every level and stage of the project to deliver a fantastic facility that integrates superbly with the existing building and the pitch works completed by the Football Foundation. Thanks to everyones efforts the community in Derby now has a football facility that will support the activity needs of many generations.

Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa
Cabinet Member for Communities and Streetpride, Derby City Council

Jointly funded by Derby City Council, the Premier League, the FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation, the project highlights the value of collaborative working in enhancing community sports infrastructure

This development embodies all that we set out to achieve when we launched Alliance Leisure 25 years ago. It creates a safe, place-based active environment where communities can come together to enjoy all the benefits of being active. In partnership with local authorities across the UK, Alliance has optimised more than £370 million to ensure public sector leisure continues to meet the bespoke needs of the communities it serves.

Sarah Watts
CEO, Alliance Leisure

Having been involved in the delivery of this project from the very start, to now seen it realise its potential & its impact on the community has been a real pleasure. Delivering a build and facility of this quality & size shows the impact the UKLF can have for everyone. To now let the local residents enjoy all the hard work which has been put in by the management & delivery team is testament to the dedication we pride ourselves on in delivery.

Martin Davies
Martin Davies
Director, Universal Civils & Build

This scheme is an excellent demonstration of positive collaboration and teamwork. From early inception the Alliance Leisure team and key stakeholders have all come together with the common goal of delivering a hub that will provide excellent facilities and also a community-based destination for local residents and the people of Derby.

Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson
Director, Abacus