Youth zone players get a kick-start

In an acclaimed act of generosity the award-winning boys and girls’ club is from now on to use Wigan Athletic’s former training ground at Christopher Park for practice and matches.

The youth club football teams will be accessing the Standish Lower Ground facility, along with Wigan Athletic Academy, following the Latics’ recent move to their new home of Wigan Athletic Training Centre in Euxton.

All the Youth Zone football team home matches, tournaments and training will be played at the facility throughout the 2016/17 season, allowing members of the youth zone to have a taste of professional football training at a high quality ground here in Wigan.

David Philip, Wigan Youth Zone football officer, said: “We are amazed by the generosity from Wigan Athletic Football Club and Dave Whelan in making Christopher Park training ground available to the WYZ Boys and Girls’ Football teams.

“The pitches are kept to the highest of standards.

“There won’t be many grass root football teams that have access to train and play at such amazing facilities – we are extremely thankful for the opportunity.”

The Youth Zone - which is itself considered one of the best of its kind in Europe - will be hosting an open day at the training ground between 5pm and 6.30pm on Friday August 26, for any football players aged six to eight who would like to play football competitively or fancy joining the team and learning some skills.

The open days will be available every single month at the venue.

To book onto the session or find out more, contact the Youth Zone and speak to the Football Team on 01942 612061.

The Euxton Training Ground is situated 15 miles from the DW Stadium and is part of what was once the huge Chorley Royal Ordnance Factory, commissioned by the government in the 1930s as part of the war effort to produce munitions.

It was bought from Bolton Wanderers by former Latics chairman Mr Whelan when the club got into financial difficulties.