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Arsenal Foundation funds school pitch

The Arsenal Foundation Funds State-of-the-Art Pitch in Torriano Primary School

Arsenal Football Club officially opened an all-weather 3G pitch at Torriano Primary School, Camden on Tuesday.

Club mascot Gunnersaurus also brought the FA Cup trophy along for the schoolchildren to enjoy and share in our recent success.

The Arsenal Foundation funded the upgrade of the sports facility to ensure schoolchildren and the local community can enjoy a safe and high-quality space on which to play. It is among eight pitch upgrades the Foundation has funded since 2012.

The pitch will be used for a wide range of sporting activities alongside football, including athletics, tennis and cricket. It will play host to a full PE curriculum and will be open from 8amto 10pm, creating a sports hub which can be used by a variety of community groups including a women’s football team and a local football league. It is also due to be available to the community as part of the new Camden Active Spaces project.

Head of Arsenal in the Community Alan Sefton said: “Arsenal’s relationship with Torriano Primary School has been nurtured over some time and it’s a privilege to be part of the pitch upgrade to leave a lasting legacy for local schoolchildren. After all, Arsenal is known for giving young people a chance to play and enjoy football, so it’s a great project to support and see completed.”

Head of school Helen Bruckdorfer said: “We’re absolutely delighted that this pitch has been transformed into a dynamic, multi-purpose sports facility for our children to enjoy. The space is not only directly impacting on the health and well-being of the pupils at our school, but the local community too. The Arsenal Foundation has left a real legacy for Torriano Primary School which can be enjoyed by many for years to come.”

Arsenal’s relationship with Torriano Primary School - like so many schools in its local boroughs - goes back some way as the club’s community department has provided after-school football coaching and teaching using the Arsenal Double Club, which uses Arsenal and football-based resources to help children with their numeracy and literacy learning. The scheme has since developed in to a holiday club too which is open to other local schools.