Exmouth Deputy Mayor Steve Gazzard and Exmouth Town Crier Roger Bourgein opened a new sports pavilion for Exmouth Town Football Club this week. 

Deputy mayor and town crier joined representatives of Exmouth Town Football Club youth section and developer Blue Cedar Homes to officially launch the new sports pavilion and pitches created specifically for the town’s youth football teams.

The new purpose-built sports pavilion and three new football pitches have been designed in consultation with Exmouth Town FC by Blue Cedar Homes. 

Steve Gazzard, Deputy Mayor, said: “This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a central hub for youth and community sports in Exmouth, providing our young athletes with a place to train, compete, and grow in an environment that fosters both skill and community spirit. We owe a tremendous thanks to Blue Cedar Homes for their funding, which has made these new pavilion and football pitches a reality. These new fields and the pavilion will enrich the lives of residents and young players alike."

The new pavilion and pitches will offer first-class facilities for a range of players to train, compete, and achieve their full potential.

The new pavilion and pitches off Maer Road Car Park will become the club’s new youth HQ and clubhouse and allow the Southern League Division 1 team to grow the club and offer safeguarded pitches developed for the young people of Exmouth.

Exmouth Town FC has consistently strived to nurture young local talent. Since Covid, the club has grown from 4 to 14 teams, providing opportunities for senior players right the way down to under sevens, with the expansion of two girls’ teams last season.

The club also has an Exmouth Town Soccer School which helps develop children of all ages, regardless of ability, in a fun and enjoyable environment.

The opening of the pavilion and pitches marks the start of an exciting new era for Exmouth Town FC, particularly for their youth teams.

Nick James, Director of Youth Football for the club, said “To have an almost professional facility to use can only enhance our appeal to players of all ages. We’re hoping that the facility will be used by local schools and we can host teams from all over the country in the coming years.”

“Sport has a fantastic way of bringing people together and this facility will really showcase Exmouth in a very positive light. We are immensely proud and grateful to Blue Cedar Homes – they have delivered us a fantastic facility, that will be second to none in the area.” 

The pitches and pavilion are part of Blue Cedar Homes’ £1.68 million community investment in Exmouth and forms part of the developer’s community contributions to a new homes development exclusively for the over 55s, Orcombe Gardens, off Douglas Avenue.

Alongside Blue Cedar Homes' contributions to the pavilion and pitches, Blue Cedar Homes has given another £82,000 towards open spaces and playing pitches, plus £17,227 for improving local biodiversity with a habitat contribution.

Chris Fayers, Sales and Marketing Director for Blue Cedar Homes, said “We are absolutely delighted to see the combined efforts of Blue Cedar Homes and Exmouth Town FC come to life in this pavilion and sports fields. Contributing to the community in which we have built our latest development – Orcombe Gardens – is incredibly important to us.”

For more information on Exmouth Town FC or Orcombe Gardens visit their website.