We were delighted to celebrate the opening of our new All Weather Pitch and cricket nets at Blagdon’s, our Off Site Sports Ground, as the new term started.
The All Weather Pitch was officially opened by Councillor Hina Bokhari and the Headmaster with the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion. They were joined by GB hockey player and Olympic gold medal winner, Giselle Ansley, and hockey star Chris Griffiths as well as Merton’s cabinet member for sport, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah.
There was a full sporting programme throughout the day to showcase and celebrate sport. The day kicked off with EmpowHER girls’ and disability football tournaments on the new pitch run by Fulham Football Club Foundation which uses our facilities to provide weekly football for underrepresented groups including girls and young people with disabilities. U16 rugby got underway at the same time, with many parents and spectators enjoying the action.
The first and second rugby teams clocked up their first wins of the season, beating Christ’s Hospital School. Our hockey teams learnt from the best with an instructive hockey masterclass by Giselle Ansley and Chris Griffiths on the new All Weather Pitch. This was followed by a fiercely competitive 1st XI versus All Stars hockey match. The All Stars team comprising Old Emanuels (OEs), staff and parents, narrowly beat the first team despite some very impressive play from the pupils.
The All Weather Pitch allows us to offer a broader range of co-educational sport with provision for netball, tennis, football and hockey, as well as cricket and rugby on the existing pitches. The new facilities give us a home ground for girls’ and boys’ sport and demonstrate our commitment to sports, wellbeing and fitness for our pupils and the wider community.
The development is just the first phase in upgrading our 14-acre Off Site Sports Ground. Further developments are in progress, including additional cricket wickets, hard courts for tennis and netball by spring 2024 and an upgraded pavilion.
Thank you to the donors who have supported us so far. Financial support is vital to developing our site and increasing bursary provision, providing further opportunity to our pupils and the wider community.
Please find more information about Giant Strides, our fundraising campaign, here or get in touch with Anna Van Es at anna.van-es@emanuel.org.uk
Mrs A Van Es, Head of Alumni Relations and Stewardship
All weather Pitch
