The Bobby Moore Sports Hub, with pitches named in honour of Sir Trevor Brooking, Paul Ince, and Chloe Kelly, has now opened in Dagenham. Delivered by Alliance Leisure, the project was made possible by the largest-ever grant from the Premier League, the FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation, this state-of-the-art hub has become a reality.

Situated in Parsloes Park, the Hub features 16 grass sports pitches and three 3G pitches. Among these is a National League System stadia pitch with spectator seating, which is now home to local club May & Baker FC.

This multi-million-pound development was made possible by a landmark £6.2 million grant from the Football Foundation — the largest ever awarded by the charity. This significant investment adds to the Foundation’s exceptional legacy of providing over £1 billion in grant funding over the past 23 years to improve grassroots sports facilities across the country.

In addition to support from the Football Foundation, the project received a further £6.1 million investment from Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council and the Mayor of London. The London Marathon Foundation also contributed £500,000 to this transformative initiative.

The Bobby Moore Sports Hub pays tribute to local football legends, including Paul Ince and Sir Trevor Brooking, both of whom have roots in the area. In a celebration of modern sporting achievement, the Hub is also home to The Chloe Kelly Pitch, named after the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO-winning Lioness and Manchester City forward. This pitch not only serves as an inspiration for local women and girls but also hosts female-only tournaments and teams, run in partnership with grassroots football clubs and local schools.

This major investment has transformed one of London’s most underserved areas. The outdated single-storey changing facilities have been replaced with a contemporary pavilion featuring a gym, fitness studio, café, and social space — amenities designed to benefit the entire local community.

The site’s grand opening was attended by West Ham United FC academy graduate and former player Anton Ferdinand, alongside current West Ham United Women’s player Hawa Cissoko.

This fantastic new Hub will not only provide a huge boost to community sport in the area but will also have a transformative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, bringing people together and strengthening the local community here in Dagenham. We hope this Hub will not only honour the legacy of several legendary local footballers, but also continue to inspire people of all identities, abilities and backgrounds to lace up their boots.
Thanks to the investment we receive from our funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation is working to deliver more Hubs like this across the country so that everyone can have access to great places to play.

Robert Sullivan
Chief Executive, The Football Foundation

It’s been a pleasure to work with the Football Foundation on our recent projects together. The Derby Football Hub was Alliance Leisure’s 250th project and it was the partnership between all suppliers and stakeholders that made it happen. Grassroots sport plays such an important role in the lives of young people and when you see the hubs in-use it really brings home what an impact we can make.

Greg Walker
Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure