A community centre in Watford has received a £250,916 (US$362,882, €324,698) grant from the Football Foundation to install a third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch.

Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust (CSE) are to start work on the project for the Meriden Community Centre located on the nearby Meriden estate.

The grant for the development – delivered by the Football Foundation – came from the Premier League and Football Association (FA) Facilities Fund, Watford Borough Council, the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation and Watford’s CSE.

Money will allow the CSE to revitalise the tarmac which is currently situated on the land the pitch will occupy. The pitch will allow the CSE to deliver a number of existing projects to members of the local community, and the facility will also be available to hire for grassroots clubs and community organisations.

“This facility is going to be a great addition for this community, enhancing the opportunities available to local people and organisations,” said Rob Smith, community director at Watford CSE.

Since 2000, 213 grants worth £13.3m (US$19.2m, €17.2m) have been awarded across the county of Hertfordshire toward grassroots sports projects.