Precision Football Arena in Beaminster to open October 12

As previously reported, Bridport FC youth coaches Tom Richardson, Ian Black and Jamie Harwood set up the Precision Football Arena, a not-for-profit organisation in Beaminster.

Now, following investments of £34,000 from the local community and through a series of grants, the project based at the Horn Park Industrial Estate has been given an official opening date after the pitch was laid down.

Coach Tom Richardson on the artificial indoor pitch (Image: Precision Football Arena) Mr Richardson said: “The pitch has been booked by local teams like Bridport and Maiden Newton. Now the pitch is down and the goals are going up we are proud of what we have achieved over a small space of time.

“We’re today sending out VIP sessions for Friday, October 11 with an official opening date on Saturday, October 12.

“It’s a lot different- the pitch went down last week and that was a big moment for us. We’ve had a few kids trial it, and everyone coming in seeing it has said wow- it’s really been the perfect response already, which is what we wanted.

“All the gym equipment has been installed, and we have had 16 hours booked in that already without the booking system.”

Gym equipment at the Precision Football Arena (Image: Precision Football Arena) The group were trying to raise additional costs from £34,000 to around £40,000 and received £600 from a stall at the Melplash Show. Mr Richardson admitted that it’s been ‘hard work’ and that the coaches have had to put in some their own money to see the project out in the final stretches.

Jamie Harwood, Tom Richardson and Ian Black of the Precision Football Arena (Image: Precision Football Arena) Part of the reason that the facility was built was to give local children the chance to play indoors when outdoor pitches in west Dorset were prone to flooding last year.

Mr Richardson added: “We had a lot of wet weather already in October, and I think it’s going to be a really wet winter, and by the looks from the bookings, people are really excited by this as you wouldn’t want to train in weather like that when you have an indoor facility available.”

The artificial pitch has been laid at the Precision Football Arena (Image: Precision Football Arena) As well as hiring out the facility to teams and parties, the group plans to arrange mental health support sessions for all the communities' self-help groups, as well as football holiday camps, Supastrikers football sessions for children up to eight years old, and walking football sessions aimed for people over the age of 50.