A JUNIOR football club will be officially opening their new sponsored ground after receiving £250,000 in grants in four years.

Earlestown Athletic JFC will be unveiling their new home, dubbed The Hive, on Harrison Way in Newton-le-Willows on Saturday, June 17 from 10.30am.

It will be opened by former premier league referee Chris Foy.

Also in attendance will be St Helens North MP Conor McGinn, Football Foundation President Lord Pendry, Earlestown councillor Charlie Preston, Head of Youth and Sports Development at St. Helens Council Dave Boocock and representatives from the Lancashire FA, Everton FC and Wigan Athletic FC.

The five-acre site, formerly used by St Aelred's Catholic High School now accommodates five junior pitches and a modular building with changing rooms and toilets for the team.

Earlestown Athletic had previously been using Mesnes Park for all the teams, which cater for three-year-olds to over 12s.

Club development manager Alan Sydall, 63 said: “It’s just a fantastic development that will not only help our junior level teams but also be a credit to the community.

“The older teams will still have to play in the park, but what this offers us is a great place for kids to come and learn how to work together.

“We’ve already had 36 new teammates join us since it has been completed.

“We cannot thank our sponsors enough.”

Sponsorship for the development came from the Football Foundation, Sport England and the Cory Environmental Trust.