New pavilion honours pioneer of women's football
BBCA sports pavilion built in honour of women's football pioneer Sylvia Gore has opened near where she grew up in Knowsley.
Gore, from Prescot, scored England's opening goal against Scotland in 1972 in her country's first official international match since a 50-year ban on women's football was lifted.
The new building includes changing rooms, lockers, a community room and office space.
Sue Smith, who won 90 England caps and was coached by Gore as a child, said the pavilion on King George V playing fields - also known as Brown's Field - was a fitting tribute.
"Sylvia was an inspiration to me and many others," Smith said.
"To see these fantastic facilities created on the very pitches she played as a child is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful lady."
The leader of Knowsley Council, Graham Morgan, said Gore, who died in 2016 aged 71, was "an inspiration for girls and women in sport".
"The pavilion not only creates wonderful opportunities for the local community and the Berkley FC teams, but also allows us to honour the legacy of Sylvia Gore in a very fitting way," he said.
"Sylvia was known to have played football on these very fields as a girl and now her name will be forever connected to this place in the minds of the local community."
The £750,000 investment, which also includes pitch improvements, was paid for with a grant from the Football Foundation and is a collaboration between Knowsley Council, Berkley Junior Football Club, and the Friends of Brown's Field.
Berkley FC will manage the building and will work with local groups on wider community events.
Berkley FC chairman Ian Leadbetter said: "This is a community building and we want to ensure as many people as possible make use of this space seven days a week."
Visitors to the park will also be able to learn more about Sylvia's life and legacy.
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