A new state-of-the-art sports facility was officially declared open today at a ceremony by representatives of Banbury Town Council, Cherwell District Council, and the Football Foundation.
Published: Friday, 5th September 2025
The new Football Foundation PlayZone, located at Chandos Sports Ground, off Chandos Close in Grimsbury, is the result of a partnership between these three organisations with the intention of providing the area with a safe, inclusive and welcoming space in which recreational sports teams can come together, practice, and socialise.
The project arrives on-time and on-budget after the initial ground-breaking 10 weeks ago, which initiated a period of construction that lasted throughout the summer with the goal of reaching completion by the start of the school term.
The project’s construction was predominantly funded by the Premier League, The FA and the government’s Football Foundation, which provided 75 per cent of the financial support for the build. Cherwell District Council provided the remaining 25 per cent of the funding. Banbury Town Council, meanwhile, committed the land required for the project, and agreed to provide the ongoing revenue support through the continued management and maintenance of the PlayZone.
Chandos Close was identified as an ideal location for the PlayZone as it aligns with the Football Foundation’s aims of providing facilities in areas of local need and enables provision of an all-weather football training facility which can be used all year round. This facility compliments the existing grass football pitch as well as the play facilities at this location which are maintained by Banbury Town Council.
From tomorrow, Saturday 6 September, the Chandos Close PlayZone will be available for booking by local community groups and clubs. With sports allowing individuals to access social, physical and health benefits, PlayZones serve as an opportunity for local residents to get involved with friends, local teams, or schools and clubs while developing their skills as players and teammates.
In addition to football, the PlayZone's versatility allows it to be used for a variety of other sports as well.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “The new Football Foundation Playzone is a fantastic investment in the health and wellbeing of Banbury communities. It creates a safe and welcoming space for people of different backgrounds, abilities and walks of life to come together through a shared love of football and other sports. We’re delighted to have helped fund the new Playzone and to be delivering it today on time and on budget for people living in the Grimsbury area.”
Councillor Shaida Hussain, Chair of Banbury Town Council’s Resources Committee, said: “The Football Foundation’s PlayZone project is a fantastic new asset for the Chandos Close area, and will provide an invaluable resource to local youth groups and clubs. Installations such as this offer more than an outstanding sports facility; they are places for young people to socialise, hone their sporting skills and actively engage in a healthy lifestyle.
“We already have plenty of local groups lining up to utilise this newest addition to Banbury Town Council’s range of sporting venues, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners at the Football Foundation and Cherwell District Council for helping to make this project a reality.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “I hope this fantastic PlayZone will be a great source of pride for the local community in Grimsbury who helped shape and deliver the project, without whom it simply wouldn’t exist.
“Thanks to the funding we receive from our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation will be delivering over 200 PlayZones like this one across the country."
To find out more about the Football Foundation PlayZones programme, visit their website.
Anyone wishing to find out more information about the Chandos Close PlayZone, or to book a session at the facility, can visit www.banbury.gov.uk or email info@banbury.gov.uk