Football fields across Anguilla are to be developed for the promotion of the sport through funds made available to the island by the Anguilla Football Association together with International Federation of Football Association (FIFA). A User Agreement to that effect has just been signed on the island.
Speaking about the event on Friday, February 21, Director of Sports, Mr. Andre Collins, told The Anguillian newspaper: “The signing of the User Agreement between the Anguilla Football Association, and the Department of Sports via the Ministry of Social Development, marks just over a year of discussions and negotiations between the various agencies. It was an effort to establish a common approach to the development of several of the football fields across the island.
“We now have in place an agreement that will support the Anguilla Football Association’s application for the development of fields. In turn, the Department of Sports will work to ensure that the various football teams and communities have fair access for their programmes of training, and competitions, as we go forward.”
Mr. Collins continued: “The project will last for two to three years. Every year we will develop about three to four fields. Now that we have this agreement, the next stage is to establish our first year’s schedule of activities; which fields we will be targeting first; and begin to put together the scope of work for those particular fields.
“In the first year, we are looking at just under US$300,000. There are plans for a much bigger development at the Football Annex [just outside the Ronald Webster Park] which will include the establishment of a turf field, and stand, which will become the Association’s main training ground and development centre for its various programmes. I would say that it is a much bigger project – and falls under this agreement – and we will be looking at working with the Association to get that started as early as June/July this year.”
Mr. Girdon Connor, President of the Anguilla Football Association, said: “There is an urgent need to increase the number of fields on the Island to support the football clubs and the full national schedule this year and in years to come. Enough football is not being played outside of the central areas, therefore it is important that fields are developed in other communities to grow the sport to its full potential, we want to give everyone the opportunity to play football and improve their skills, but we must have proper facilities.”
The User Agreement was signed on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development by Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake. Signing on behalf of the Anguilla Football Association was its President, Mr. Girdon Connor; signing as Witness for the Ministry and the Department of Sports was Mr. Andre Collins, Director of Sports; and signing as Witness on behalf of the Anguilla Football Association was Ms. Marslyn Richardson, the General Secretary.
