A state-of-the-art football pitch and basketball court have been unveiled in N19 – with free coaching sessions for kids. <br><br>The facilities in Elthorne Park, Hazellville Road, are funded by Islington Council with financial backing from Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp. <br><br>Cllr Ruth Polling, Islington Council's Executive Member for Leisure, said: "This sports pitch is as good as it gets and uses the latest materials. <br><br>"Children in our borough deserve the best start in life, which is why projects like this are so important.<br><br>"We're investing millions in leisure facilities across Islington and we want to use the forthcoming 2012 Games to inspire everyone in the borough to become more active.<br><br>"This is a really exciting time for sport in Islington and I hope the new pitch will be really well used by the local community." <br><br>The project to refurbish the pitches cost more than a quarter-of-a-million pounds. <br><br>It received a cash boost of £75,000 from Dennis Bergkamp and his testimonial, through the Cruyff foundation, as a thank you to the local community for supporting his 11-year career at Arsenal.<br><br>Residents can turn up and use the facilities at Elthorne Park without booking. <br><br>Thanks to the Kickz community football project, this is the first time that that the pitch is available for structured use and is free for young people of the area. Arsenal in the Community runs its regular Kickz sessions four times a week at the football facility which were the catalyst for the facility's regeneration.<br><br>ENDS<br><br>For more information please call Chris Weeks on 020 7527 3032 <br><br>NOTES: <br>The Kickz project is a partnership that was initially formed between the Premier League,The Football Association,The Football League, the Football Foundation, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the Metropolitan Police Authority to create a youth social inclusion project.<br><br>Kickz is a national programme that brings together the football industry with the police and other partners to help young people realise their potential. Arsenal Kickz has rapidly evolved since it began in Islington in 2006 and now delivers the project across three London boroughs<br>Arsenal Kickz Sessions are open to all and run at the following times:<br> <br>Mondays: 5pm – 6pm (for 10 - 14 year-olds) and 6pm to 7pm (for 15 - 19 year-olds)<br> <br>Tuesdays: 4.30pm – 5.30pm (girls only aged 10 - 19 year-olds) and 6pm – 8pm for 15 - 19 year-olds)<br> <br>Wednesday: 5pm – 6pm (for 10 to 14 year-olds) and 6pm to 7pm (for 15 -19 year-olds)<br> <br>Thursday: 5pm – 7.30pm (for 10 – 14 year olds) and 7.30pm-9pm (for 15 to 19 year-olds)<br> <br>Boxing at Islington Boxing Club<br> <br>Friday: 6pm-7.15pm<br> <br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009