Kick off for Football Foundation PlayZones in West Suffolk

17 Mar 2026

New Football Foundation PlayZones are to be created in three West Suffolk towns, with onsite works set to begin in the coming weeks.

The multi-sport facilities in Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket are being delivered ready for the summer, thanks to a £667,297 grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The activities at each PlayZone have been tailored to meet the needs and preferences of the local community. It follows extensive engagement with sports clubs, community partners and residents in 2024 around the sports activities people want to see in their town.

In Newmarket, a new PlayZone that can be used for basketball, netball and football will replace the old multi-use games area at Studlands Park. Work is due to begin on site next week.

In Haverhill, a new PlayZone catering for football and basketball will replace the old multi-games area at Motts Field.

And in Mildenhall, a new PlayZone catering primarily for football is to be built on the site of the former town swimming pool.

Work on the Haverhill and Mildenhall sites is scheduled to start next month.

Clubs will be able to hire out these new facilities – the hire fee will cover costs including use of floodlights while also enabling the PlayZones to be used for free for casual play such as by children and teenagers.

A booking system enabling access to each PlayZone, similar to that already used at the tennis courts in the Abbey Gardens, will also enable people to see when it is available rather than turning up to find it already in use.

The Football Foundation grant announced in March last year, will cover around 75 per cent of the build costs. West Suffolk Council will meet the remaining £222,433 out of its capital budget for play area refurbishment.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at West Suffolk Council said: “I am delighted to see that work is starting on these new sports facilities in Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket.”

“It is great to have the support of the Football Foundation grant alongside our own investment to deliver these brilliant new sports facilities ready for the summer.”

“These PlayZones can only further encourage sports activity and participation for people of all ages, benefitting their health and wellbeing and supporting our ambition for a thriving West Suffolk.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “When it comes to helping more people in communities to become active, the Football Foundation knows a ‘one-size fits all’ approach doesn’t work. That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our PlayZones programme.”

“As with all PlayZones, the new facilities in Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket have been shaped by the local community, who’ll be able to step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them.”

“Thanks to the funding we receive from our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Foundation will be delivering over 200 PlayZones like this one across the country."

The new PlayZones are expected to open in the summer.

To find out more about the Football Foundation PlayZones programme, visit their website.

 

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