Bradford East MP, Imran Hussain, has welcomed the start of work on the development of new £1.4 million state-of-the-art improvements at Myra Shay as another success in his long-running campaign to improve grassroots sports facilities across Bradford.

The state-of-the-art improvements include the installation of a new Third-Generation (3G) all-weather pitch suitable for both football and rugby league games to replace existing grass pitch facilities and bring Myra Shay up to FA standards, as well as upgrades to changing facilities and the installation of better floodlighting, and follows months of work by Imran in pushing Bradford Council and other organisations to deliver greater investment into the site.

Visiting the site last week to see the improvement works as they begin to get underway, Imran thanked those who helped to make them a reality after years of underinvestment, and vowed to continue his campaign to improve grassroots sports facilities across Bradford for the benefit of local communities.

Speaking on his campaign to secure investment and the start of works at Myra Shay, Imran said:

“Encouraging people to get involved in grassroots sports and to then stay involved unlocks so many different benefits, not just in terms of people’s health and wellbeing, but for making areas more attractive places to live and to raise families. That’s why improving grassroots sport facilities across Bradford, particularly in our more deprived neighbourhoods that don’t always see much investment, has been and always will be such an important, core mission for me.

“Whilst it’s been a long road to get here after months of making the case to Bradford Council, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the FA, the Premier League, and the Football Foundation to secure this commitment, I’m delighted that the work is now underway.

“This success in bringing new investment is also a great opportunity to engage with those who want to play but who are put off by unsuitable facilities, especially women and girls who, so I’m delighted that following the incredible and inspiring successes of the Lionesses in 2022 and last year, this investment into Myra Shay will also include additional improvements for female players.”