England Top Scorer Ellen White Bags A Pitch Named In Her Honour
By Joel,16, Jill Dando News Correspondent
Ellen White MBE officially opened a pitch named after her at Glossop North End Community Club in Derbyshire today, in honour of the part she played in the Lionesses lifting the UEFA Women’s EURO trophy in 2022.
The fantastic 3G pitch and two-team changing pavilion has been delivered thanks to a £1.55 million grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
The Ellen White Pitch is one of 30 Football Foundation-funded pitches that are being named after each of the Lionesses to honour their victory at the UEFA Women’s EURO and their inspirational performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The new pitch and changing facility will provide a significant boost to sport in the local area and create an inclusive and welcoming place to play for the women and girls as well as even more opportunities to play.
Ellen White MBE said: “It’s such an honour to have a pitch named after me! I’m so pleased to see that the next generation of girls in the area, which will include my daughter, will have the best chance possible to follow their own football journeys thanks to the amazing facilities here at Glossop North End Community Club.
“It’s been brilliant to meet all the players today and hear how much the Lionesses’ success has meant to them all. I feel so proud of all the Lionesses for inspiring women and girls to play football.”
The Lioness legacy pitches form a key part of the Football Foundation’s HERe To Play campaign, which celebrates the charity’s commitment to delivering grassroots facilities that provide equal access to women and girls.
Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation, said: “Ellen and the Lionesses, past and present, have been an absolute inspiration to women and girls across the country. Many of the squad from the UEFA Women’s EURO and FIFA Women’s World Cup kick-started their journey to the international stage on facilities that have been improved thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
“Like we have done at Glossop North End Community Club, the Football Foundation is directing more money than ever before into supporting the grassroots game and every one of the facilities we fund will provide equal access for women and girls."
"Alongside this commitment, The Lionesses Futures Fund, a £30 million cash injection to the Foundation, will support the development of approximately 30 new state-of-the-art 3G pitches and accompanying facilities - all designed to prioritise women’s and girls’ football teams.”
The Ellen White Pitch will replace a grass pitch that was prone to waterlogging, frequently causing matches to be called off or postponed.
Thanks to this new all-weather surface, the total number of teams using the site is expected to increase over the next few years – helping to create even more opportunities to play for the local community in Derbyshire.
The £2.4 million project was supported by a sizeable contribution of £175k from Glossop North End Community Club alongside an additional £675k from High Peak Council, Derbyshire County Council, Sport England and Derbyshire FA.
Ben Mills, Football Development Officer at Glossop North End Community Club, said: “We are delighted to see Glossop Community Sports Hub finally become a reality after many years of hard work from so many people. Glossop North End Community Club now has its own home on a site where so much football has been played for many years and this will have a significant impact on the community.
“The Ellen White Pitch is now a fitting home for football in the town especially given the growth in the women’s and girls’ game in which Ellen White MBE has been at the forefront of as part of The Lionesses.
"The club now has girl’s teams at every age group providing a pathway through to women’s football and we hope this pitch will become a beacon for football in the area and support future growth in the game."
“We would like to thank the Football Foundation as well as our partners Derbyshire County Council, High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire FA for their support and investment in this amazing facility. The Club Committee and every member, volunteer, player and supporter have all worked so hard to make the dream of a new facility and all-weather pitch come true. To have The Ellen White Pitch at the centre of Glossop North End Community Club is an honour which will inspire the next generation of players!”
Liam Rooney, Head of Facilities & Partnerships at Derbyshire FA, said:“The opening of Glossop North End Community Club’s 3G pitch marks a fantastic milestone for the club and the local community.
“This state-of-the-art facility will not only provide a top-quality surface for players of all ages and abilities but also foster greater participation in football, helping to nurture the next generation of talent. It's a place where future stars will hone their skills, and local teams will thrive."
“Having the new 3G pitch named after Ellen White is a fitting tribute to one of England's legendary Lionesses and will provide a lasting legacy, encouraging future generations to follow in her footsteps, develop their skills, and continue growing the women’s game. The commitment shown by all the volunteers within the football club has now been rewarded with this fantastic facility that will inspire a generation for many years to come.”
