Foundation 92, in partnership with the Johan Cruyff Foundation, For Housing, Salford City Council and CommUNITY Little Hulton is delighted to announce the construction of a new Cruyff Court in Little Hulton, Salford. This new facility will enhance the delivery of Foundation 92’s football, sport, and physical activity sessions in the Little Hulton area and serve as a new communal space for the people of Little Hulton.
The state-of-the-art pitch will be the first of its kind in Salford, and only the second in Greater Manchester after the construction of Cruyff Court Jackie Groenen (former Manchester United WFC star) at Cumberland School in neighbouring Bolton, which opened in 2021. The Cruyff Foundation funds (among others) Cruyff Courts, hi-tech, all weather & all-access sports hubs, across the world to provide young people & their communities with access to high-quality pitches and foster a love of sport and activity.
The unique and free to access community sports court, will have solar powered floodlights, making it the first of its kind in the UK.
Foundation 92 runs several programmes within the Little Hulton area of Salford, and the construction of a Cruyff Pitch further demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to the area. In 2021, the Foundation opened it’s first community hub in the Little Hulton providing a dedicated space for young people, veterans and anyone who wanted to access the Foundation’s services.
The Foundation will be able to use the pitch to enhance the delivery of its programmes in Little Hulton, ranging from Premier League Kicks to its free Club 92 multi-sports outreach sessions.
Head of Foundation 92, Tom Hutton, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Cruyff Foundation, For Housing and Salford City Council on the construction of a Cruyff Court in Little Hulton. This facility will allow us to provide better, more engaging sessions and deliver more for the people of Little Hulton. Alongside the work we already do in the area, this pitch will allow us to really make a meaningful difference to the lives of people across the area”.
Miranda van Holstein, of the Cruyff Foundation, commented: “We’re happy to be opening this first Cruyff Court in Salford together with Foundation 92. This project is the kick off to what we hope is a long-term sustainable partnership. Cruyff Courts represent a fantastic asset for the local community and provide children and young people with a safe space to have fun together and grow through sports. This Cruyff Court will greatly benefit the community of Salford for the next decade at least.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is fantastic news to see works start on this new Cruyff Court in Little Hulton, a state-of-the-at pitch for the area.
“The sessions that Foundation 92 will provide here will keep young people in fun, constructive activities and make such a positive difference to their lives. I look forward to joining them at their first training session. And who knows – we may find the professional players for the future for Salford City FC.”
Construction of the pitch began on the 9th of January 2023.
Foundation 92 is delighted to also announce a new partnership with the Denis Law Legacy Trust. The new Cruyff Court in Little Hulton will be twinned with a Cruyff Court in Aberdeen, ran by the Denis Law Legacy Trust. This partnership will also involve participants at each Cruyff Court swapping places, to experience new places and different cultures.