We have unveiled plans to kick-off the transformation of a South Tyneside football club following a £2million government funding package.
The move sees Hebburn Town FC – affectionately known as The Hornets – set to deliver on its Community Hub Project with a range of ambitious redevelopment initiatives as part of a strategic masterplan, including the replacement of its main pitch to a new FIFA Pro-certified artificial pitch and second training pitch with state-of-the-art 3G pitches and new floodlights.
The construction of a new South Stand, which will contain modern changing rooms, office facilities, a gym, a club shop, is also planned together with a flexible function room area, which will be used for conference facilities and classrooms.
A community hub is also on the cards with the conversion of an existing building to provide further space for meetings and events. It will also be used for a host of community and health and wellbeing activities such as Pilates, yoga, karate, toddler groups, coffee mornings and a lot more.
There are also plans to extend The Sportsy Bar below the current balcony area to increase the venue’s match day capacity, incorporate a dedicated stage area for performers and allow for a more spacious and comfortable area for families.
New vehicular access via South Drive and a new main pedestrian access focal point via Victoria Road are also planned together with extra car parking spaces.
Submission of the plans follows the announcement earlier this year of a £2m funding package by Alex Norris MP, the Minister for Local Growth; Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East; and Stephen Rutherford, chief executive of Hebburn Town FC.
MD Sean Hedley said redevelopment will benefit both the football club and the local community: “These are fantastic plans for a club which serves thousands of people in the local area and is woven into the fabric of the local community. This proposal is a collaboration with the Football Foundation, who will be delivering the 3G training pitch on site.
“Expansion of the football club not only represents a significant milestone in the club’s sporting success and on-going growth, but also a socio-economic commitment to the people of Hebburn and the wider borough of South Tyneside.”
A decision on planning approval is expected 9 March 2026.
Overall, Hebburn FC generates in excess of £3.1m in social value every year. It runs six community programmes for 9,270 local people using its grounds and facilities and provides football for 135 adult players, across six teams. It also provides football for 878 youth players, across 86 teams while the club’s youth players create a combined social and economic value of £665,000 from health savings, youth spending, and reduced crime rates.
