A Football Foundation PlayZone was officially opened by The High Sheriff Nigel Hartley at Sandham Gardens in Sandown, thanks to a £250,000 investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
After netting a £250,000 grant from the Football Foundation, work began on the site in October 2026
Football Foundation PlayZones are small-sided facilities designed by the local community to host football as well as a variety of other sports. Like all PlayZones, the new pitch at Sandham Gardens has been designed based on extensive engagement with Sandown local residents to ensure it’ll meet the needs and preferences of the local community.
Sandown and Lake Football Club, representatives of Community Action Isle of Wight, Bay Youth Project and members of the community have all contributed to shaping the proposed PlayZone through consultation and engagement sessions.
It was opened at an event on 22 May 2026. The opening ceremony was marked by the presence of distinguished guests, included Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Richard Priest, High Sheriff Nigel Hartley and Joe Robertson MP.
They were joined by young players from Sandown and Lake Football Club, representatives of Community Action Isle of Wight, Bay Youth Project, members of the community, and Sandown Town Councillors, led by Mayor Cllr Alex Lightfoot.
Mayor Alex Lightfoot said:
“We are incredibly proud to officially open the Sandown Playzone. This fantastic facility has been made possible through the dedication of many partners and will provide lasting benefits to our community, particularly our young people.”
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 Sandown 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: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/playzones-programme
For more information, please contact:
Town Clerk and RFO: Jennifer Armstrong
The Broadway Centre, 1 Broadway, Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 9GG
Tel: (01983) 408 287/ 300 329 Email: clerks@sandowntowncouncil.gov.uk
Notes to editors
About the Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.
The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring everyone has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.
Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has £1.3 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,300 3G pitches, 15,000 grass pitches and 1,700 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.5 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2.7 billion investment in grassroots football so far.
In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.
Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.
