A BUILDING that is ‘the stuff of dreams’ has risen in a corner of Uxbridge.
Football Association and Brentford FC chairman Greg Dyke, who was born in Hayes, cut the ribbon on the new training facility at Uxbridge High School on Thursday last week
The 50 by 60-metre pitch, classrooms, gym and treatment rooms in the building at one end of the school’s grounds in The Greenway, were paid for by the football club, with a contribution by the school. The cost has not been disclosed.
Brentford FC and Uxbridge High School have agreed a partnership to allow players from the club’s Category Two Football Academy to attend the school and train on site.
Ose Aibangee, Brentford Academy director, said: “It is fantastic that this building is now formally open, and I thank Greg Dyke for coming to do the honours.
“The building has been operational for a couple of months and it is a wonderful facility. We have a superb gym and classrooms so we can provide our education here. It is heated, so the temperature is good for the boys to train. And we have a third-generation playing surface because it is very important that the pitch is good.
Photos by Chris Berry
“When I came to Brentford, this sort of building was the stuff of dreams.”
The school and club teamed up last September. Young players attend lessons with classmates and train with the club’s coaches during the day and in the evenings.
The centre will be available for school PE lessons. Brentford FC Community Sports Trust will also run programmes on the site.
Peter Lang, principal of Uxbridge High, said: “I would like to thank all involved in having the vision for this project and for building and creating such a superb facility with a real wow factor.”
? More pictures online, at www.getwestlondon.co.uk/all-about/uxbridge .
