Wiltshire Football Association (FA) and Swindon Town FC Community Foundation are hosting the Swindon Football Festival on 27^th July at Swindon Town FC ‘Foundation Park’ to celebrate the recently opened, purpose built, football hub that has been two decades in the making.

Jon Holloway, Head of Swindon Town FC Community Foundation said, “We are extremely proud of our new facility and very much looking forward to hosting this free football festival. We are not solely focussing on football training; we will use football to promote fitness, health education, outreach and social inclusion. Our vision has always been to create a community hub which offers opportunities for everyone to come and get involved in our projects and programmes.”

The festival on the 27^th July invites 11-14 year olds to come and experience the new facility and hear about the sessions available to them.

Jon continues, “This is a special community football tournament in Swindon. We are inviting people, who may never have played football before, to join us as we launch our new community football sessions as part of the opening of the 3G pitch.”

Foundation Park, the new home to STFC Community Foundation at the County Ground, is an all-weather, artificial, flood lit pitch with parking and a two storey pavilion.

Oliver Selfe, CEO at Wiltshire FA comments, “We hope that the festival offers an introduction to the facility, and the game, for people that may not be currently engaged with football.

We want to reach all of our community and promote the benefits of football. As a sport, football creates opportunities to become active and healthy; it also helps to boost self-esteem and can benefit mental well-being. As well as these health benefits, football instills teamwork, leadership and respect. It also offers social opportunities and gives people a sense of belonging.

The new facility, the new community sessions and the festival are helping us to provide more opportunities for people to experience the powerful and positive effect of football.”

Also supporting the festival in Swindon is Crimestoppers charity. Wiltshire FA has recently joined forces with Crimestoppers charity to have a positive impact in Wiltshire and promote safe and active communities.

Matthew McGinn, Chair of the Wiltshire & Swindon Crimestoppers Volunteer Committee said “We know football offers a positive influence on young people’s lives so this is also a great opportunity to reach the young people in Swindon and make them aware about our youth service, Fearless.org, where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime.”

The Fearless website offers 11-16 year olds information and advice about crime and criminality and provides a safe place to give information about crime - 100% anonymously.

The Swindon Football Festival takes place on Saturday 27^th July, 12.30pm – 2.30pm at Swindon Town Football Club. 11-14 year olds are invited to come and experience the new facility. All abilities welcome. Each participant will be given 1 free child ticket and 1 free adult ticket for the club friendly match at 3pm on Saturday 27^th July, Swindon Town FC v. Coventry City FC. Spaces are limited so booking is essential.

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