A FOOTBALL club has finally received the funding it needs to build a state-of-the-art sporting complex in Harrow.

The Football Foundation, which provides funding to sports in Britain, has given Barnet FC a £1m grant for its plans to build a football centre of excellence and training facility.

The club has been expecting to be awarded the funding, but had to wait for it to be officially granted the go-ahead with the scheme, on the Prince Edward Playing Fields, in Canons Park Building work will start in a few weeks time on the complex, which will include training facilities, eight pitches, and entertainment suites.

The site will become the home of Barnet Ladies team and Barnet youth teams, as well being a permanent training facility for the men’s first team, which has been in temporary accommodation for around 15 years.

When plans were unveiled in 2007, it had been hoped Barnet’s plans could include a permanent home for Wealdstone FC, which had been struggling to find a place to play its home games.

However, Barnet’s delay in securing funding from the Football Foundation meant Wealdstone had to look elsewhere, and moved to Ruislip Manor Sports and Social Club.

Harrow Council has promised £750,000 of funding for the scheme, and Councillor Marilyn Ashton said she hopes the training complex will help to foster footballing talent in the borough.