Sports Pavilion

The Steven Gerard Academy, which opened its first midlands academy in Stapleford in September 2024, will use Hickings Lane as its future base for all football training and education. Not only will the Academy improve the education, health and wellbeing of children and young people and create job opportunities, it will put Stapleford on the map as a centre of excellence for sport.

The new £7.5m community pavilion and sports facility includes a cafe, large social space, activity halls, multi function rooms, offices, food prep, toilets and changing facilites.

The outdoor facilities includes an eleven-a-side 3G (a long-lasting high grade all-weather surface) pitch and a smaller seven-a-side multi-use pitch (already part of the main Community Pavilion scheme with planning permission) – as well as space on the park for two five-a-side grass pitches or one seven-a-side pitch. The new larger pitch will create more opportunities for sport for those with disabilities or the less mobile and further community activity during all seasons, increasing the amount of physical activity and wellbeing for local residents.