Football Foundation: TV presenter Hayley McQueen opens new sports hub

Last month, Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen swapped the studio for the pitch as she officially opened the new sports hub at William Perkin CofE High School.

McQueen, a Football Foundation Ambassador, and the daughter of former Manchester United and Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen, impressed the school’s pupils with her skills on the ball as she showed the youngsters how it was done.

Impressed by the new facility, Hayley was amazed that the new sports hub is projected to increase 14 to 25-year-old participation by 238 per cent in the area! The new sports hub includes a new all-weather pitch and a two-storey changing room pavilion.

“This sort of pitch wouldn’t look out of place at a professional club’s training ground, it is that good,” McQueen said.

“You cannot help but want to kick a football the moment you step foot on it! That is the beauty of building one of these – people gravitate towards it because they know they’ll be able to play on it all-year-round, regardless of their ability.”

In addition to the school’s 785 students, the grassroots facility will also be used by local primary schools, and called ‘home’ by Middlesex FA Girls Centre of Excellence and local sides Greenford Celtic FC and Hanwell Town Youth FC.

Kier Smith, Associate Headteacher at the school, added, “I would like to thank all who have contributed to this ambitious project.

“Through their support, our vision to provide outstanding sports facilities for the state education sector has been realised.

“I look forward to working with all of our partners to ensure this centre for youth sport development delivers to the young people of West London.”

Everyone at the Foundation would like to thank our Ambassador, Hayley McQueen, for giving her time and support towards benefiting the grassroots game.

Words by David Hartley