A THURROCK school is celebrating news that it has received a £356,493 grant to build an artificial floodlit football pitch.

St Clere's School at Stanford-le-Hope will get the cash from the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity.

The funding will enable the school to construct pitch of full international size dividing into three five-a-side pitches. The pitch will be a third generation synthetic surface designed to replicate the performance and playing characteristics of a natural surface.

Headteacher Paul Griffiths said: "The success of this project is fantastic news for all our students and the community we serve.

"The project will provide a first class facility for curriculum delivery and provide a much needed resource for the local community. I would like to thank all those involved with the proposal and the Football Foundation for their financial support to the project."

The new facility will strengthen the community initiative already underway at St Clere's. The school opened the pavilion, a changing and classroom facility in 2006.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: "I warmly congratulate St Clere's and Essex County FA for their hard work and dedication in securing this award.

"Sport is playing a central role in helping people to stay fit, strengthen communities and promote responsibility amongst young people. I am delighted that Football Foundation investment is opening up access to sport in Thurrock and encourage other organisations in the region to apply to us."

Jon Purkiss, Second in Physical Education and Community Sports Co-ordinator at St Clere's School led the project.

He said: "The project was an ambitious attempt to provide a high quality resource to a community which lacks first class facilities.

"Anyone who has been involved in a project such as this will appreciate that difficulties arise, but through hard work and continued support from numerous individuals, we have achieved our goal of providing the best possible 3G pitch.

"St Clere's School will soon provide a facility which will not only improve the quality of curriculum delivery for our students, but meet the needs of many local football clubs.

"In addition, the facility will be a boost for the youth of Thurrock which is deprived of accessible amenities. The physical, psychological and social benefits sport can offer, which the facility will provide, will undeniably improve the lives of many in Thurrock.

"There are many people who have assisted with our project from its infancy and they are aware of our appreciation.

"I must however thank Nick Perchard (County Development Manger, Essex FA), Stuart Lamb (Regional Facilities Manager for London and South East, FA) and Ben Dunning (Football Foundation) for their guidance and continued support.

On behalf of St Clere's School, I would like to thank the Football Foundation for their financial backing. They have made a dream a reality for many people in Thurrock. The dedication the Football Foundation has towards grass roots is evident in their support for this project."

Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for education, councillor Mike Revell, said: "It's wonderful to see yet another improvement to facilites for children in our borough.

"This is a forerunner to the changes were bringing to schools to make a new, brighter Thurrock."