Local and regional sports leaders joined college governors, staff, civic leaders, local sports partnerships and students to celebrate the official opening of the college's £1.4million Exwick Sports hub - the latest phase of the college’s £14million sports investment programme.
The Exwick Sports Pavilion provides modern classrooms and changing areas complementing the existing playing fields and court areas that offers college students and community groups’ cricket, football and tennis facilities.
This development is the latest in an investment programme of new sports and fitness facilities for the city and the local community following the refurbishment of a £1million gym in the city centre in 2012 and the college's management of Devon County Council's purpose-built Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre opened in 2013 through the proceeds of the sale of the Exeter Airport.
"We're delighted to be officially opening this Sports Hub" said Richard Atkins, Principal at Exeter College and chair of the Association of College Sports Committee. "It is an important development providing an additional focus for our own college sports courses allowing our expanding sports programmes to continue to succeed and it gives the continued support for improving community participation in sport in the city and the wider region. Working with Exeter City Council the community groups such as Exwick Villa Football Club, Cricket Club and Exwick Tennis Club will now also benefit from these secure modern facilities."
"We're very proud of the successes of our individual sportswomen and sportsmen and our various sport teams. The pinnacle of our last sporting year was our rugby team being runners up at the Under 18s Nat West Vase finals at Twickenham and this latest investment will provide additional first class facilities for the teams to train and practise."
Visitors to the official opening heard from Karime Hassan, Chief Executive and Growth Director of Exeter City Council how the Sports hub, in partnership with the Council and local groups, is part of the plan to improve support for sports. Peter Chapman, head of the faculty of Sports, Leisure and Tourism outlined the college's current plans for the Sports hub and the plans to complete a £6.5million sports hall complex in the city centre to replace the existing sports hall and how this will further enhance the sports facilities for the 870 students of all ages recruited each year to the faculty's range of full time and part time 16-18 and university level courses.
The Sports Pavilion was officially opened by The Lord Mayor Cllr Percy Prowse.
