Bootle legend and England Lioness Alex Greenwood has once again teamed up with Sefton Council, this time to refurbish football facilities in her hometown.

The Euros winner said she wanted to bring a feeling of ‘pure happiness’ to youngsters in the area.

Two Multi-Use Games and Sports Areas (MUGAs) in Poets Park and Orrell Mount will undergo refurbishment thanks to Alex, Sefton Council, funding from the Barclays Community Football Fund and community sports charity Sported.

Improving facilities in Bootle

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton team will deliver the refurbishment works on behalf of Alex, who said she was delighted to be bringing the project to her hometown.

Alex, who will be bestowed with the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton later this year, said: “Bootle is where I’m from and I’m proud to have grown up here.

“Fortunately for me, I was spotted at a young age, but I know there is talent out there that haven’t because of a lack of opportunities to play.

“Renovating these two MUGAs in my hometown with funding from the Barclays Community Football Fund will give more girls that chance to play the game they love.

“I’m looking forward to improving as many facilities in the area as possible.”

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing said: “Alex has always been an inspiration to Sefton’s sporting youngsters, and we are so proud to be supporting Alex in this project to refurbish the multi-use games and sports areas in Poets Park and Orrell Mount.

“The last few years have shown just how important these outdoor facilities are, and we are delighted to see Alex’s commitment to improving these for our local community.”

Tom Corbett, Group Head of Sponsorship and Media at Barclays, says: “From grassroots to the elite game, our commitment to women’s football, through our title sponsorship of the Barclays Women’s Super League, is matched with our commitment to giving girls equal access to football in their own communities. We are very proud to be supporting Alex Greenwood through her personal philanthropic ambitions to give back and renovate these much-needed MUGAs in her hometown, leaving a real legacy for the local community.”

Commitment to sports

The project follows other positive news for the borough as earlier this year the Council confirmed its commitment to maintaining and improving children’s play facilities with a £200,000 investment.

While in June, the Council opened the Borough’s 100^th play site which includes a new multi-use games area at Rainbow Park.

And earlier this year, 3 members of staff were awarded a prestigious playground accreditation, joining only 4,000 others registered with this level worldwide.