Work has started on a £2.7m development led by Four Housing Group to turn well-known regional football club ‘Gateshead Redheugh 1957’ into a flagship sporting development. SURGO Construction will be developing the site and joined with project partners and local children to officially kick off the development during May.

Known as the training ground for legends such as Paul Gascoigne, Scottish footballer Don Hutchinson and former manager Ian Branfoot, the club will soon have a new home, new facilities and will provide help for those in need.

The football club started in 1957 as ‘Redheugh Boys’ Club’ and has grown into one of the most successful junior clubs in the North East. With over 300 boys and girls playing football every week at Redheugh, the club continues to grow. Despite creating great footballers in the last few years the club has been restricted off the field due to the constraints of being based in old inadequate buildings.

The design for the new Academy integrates supported accommodation for young people aged between 16 and 25 who are at risk of becoming homeless as well as a new home for Gateshead Redheugh 1957 and sports facilities for local residents in Eslington Park.

Four Housing Group is developing the facility to serve the needs of vulnerable people while supporting the local community. “These are times of economic uncertainty and government reports suggest that there are more homeless and vulnerable young people than ever before,” commented Group Director of Development and Regeneration, Lynda Peacock. “This development will be crucial to helping both the football club and young people in the locality who need access to emergency accommodation.”

Funding was secured from Places of Change, the HCA National Affordable Housing Programme and the Football Foundation. Gateshead Council and Four Housing Group are also investing capital into the development.

Councillor Catherine Donovan, Cabinet Member for Housing, says:

“This is a hugely important and innovative project which will help to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young people in Gateshead.

“Combining a superb new home for one of the area’s most respected sporting youth organisations with a much-needed facility for young people in need will ensure that both will benefit from this development.”

The Cyrenians, the North East charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people, will support with the young people living at the Academy. Chief Executive of The Cyrenians, Stephen Bell, explained,

“The Sports Academy is a very exciting concept and will be a tremendous asset in our work to support vulnerable young people in the Gateshead area.

“We will be able to work with up to 20 young people at any one time. As well as benefitting from a stable home environment we will be working with them to develop their social and employability skills. Our main focus is to help people to tackle challenges in their lives and to prepare them to live independently in the long term. That means being trained and getting a job.”

The facility will also include a community café, meeting room, six changing rooms, office and stores. Phases 2 and 3 will include the addition of a sports hall and all-weather football pitch, provided that funds allow.

Gateshead Residential Sporting Academy is funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, Four Housing Group, Gateshead Council and The Football Foundation. Surgo Construction will be developing the site. The partners are working hard to ensure the Gateshead Redheugh 1957 will have a unique facility that benefits the local community.