A NEW £800,000 pavilion which is home to hundreds of young footballers could encourage even more children to play sport after its official unveiling.

The Cutteslowe Park changing room facility, which will provide a clubroom, kitchen facilities and toilets for almost 400 Summertown Stars players, their opponents and spectators, has been officially unveiled.

Its previous incarnation was mainly used for storage which left many of the clubs teams with nowhere to congregate or change so they had to turn up in full kit ready to play.

Representatives from Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire FA and the Football Foundation were on hand to open the building which it is hoped will allow more youngsters to get active.

Councillor Linda Smith, city council board member for leisure, said: "The new pavilion is a fantastic step forward for sports facilities in Oxford and we are extremely grateful to the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund and Sport England for supporting us in refurbishing this important facility.

"The works here will enable a thriving local football club, in Summertown Stars AFC, to continue its excellent work in attracting more people to be active."

Chairman of Summertown Stars, who have 47 teams based at the park, Gunnar Niels said it would be of "huge benefit" to young players, parents and officials alike who regularly use the pitches on Saturdays and Sundays.

The project was made possible after the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, through the Football Foundation, awarded a grant of £348,828.

Oxford City Council part-funded the build through a £2m investment project into pavilions in the city – which also included pavilions in Barton, Rose Hill, Headington and Blackbird Leys.

Business development manager at the Oxfordshire FA, Andy Earnshaw, said it would help the club - one of the biggest in the county - continue to grow.

He said: "It is fantastic to see another pavilion developed through our partnership work with Oxford City Council. Summertown Stars AFC are a shining example of an FA Charter Standard Community Club and I am delighted that we can support their on-going development through this investment providing a facility that matches their ambitions."

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "With this funding, provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England, we are helping to improve community sports facilities across the country and thereby the playing experience of those who take part.

"This latest project in Oxford is the latest addition to the inventory of modern community sports sites we are developing that cater for the needs of local people who want to play sport purely for the love of it and to stay healthy."