£250,000 Premier League PlayZone Project Kicks Off In Sandown

Work is now underway on a brand-new Football Foundation PlayZone in Sandown – thanks to a £250,000 grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.

PlayZones are modern, small-sided pitches designed in partnership with local communities to host football as well as a variety of other sports and activities.

In April this year, Sandown Town Council secured funding for the project, which will see a new facility built at Sandown Grounds following extensive consultation with residents.

An extra £152,000 has also been contributed by Sandown Town Council, ensuring the scheme meets local needs and can be used for a wide range of sports.

The PlayZone will be used to run community outreach programmes, with the Bay Youth Project working alongside England Netball and the Isle of Wight Cricket Board.

Local youth football teams – who have long struggled to find training space – will also benefit, with plans to use the facility to grow their girls’ teams. Adult netball sessions are also planned.

Sandown’s mayor, Cllr Alex Lightfoot, said:

“The PlayZone will be a community-led space designed to make physical activity more accessible for Sandown residents, promoting inclusivity and giving young people and other priority groups the chance to take part in sports that wouldn’t otherwise be available to them.”

Football Foundation Chief Executive Rob Sullivan added:

“When it comes to tackling inequalities in physical activity, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

"That’s why local input is at the heart of every PlayZone. The new facility in Sandown has been shaped by the community and will give people the chance to get active in a way that suits them.”

The Sandown PlayZone is expected to open in January 2026.

You can find out more about the Football Foundation’s PlayZone programme here.