THOSE closest to the proposed £70 million Cheshire FA project to bring a women’s football centre of excellence to Northwich have welcomed news of the project with open arms.

In partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and ION Developments, the county’s football association wants to bring a football campus complex to an unconfirmed location – thought to be near Dane Valley – by 2020.

The development would include a number of top-level football pitches, both grass and 3G, along with a 3,000-seater stadium and luxury hotel and spa to attract top footballing clientele from across the world.

Since the announcement last week, supporters have been citing benefits that could drip down to boost a number of aspects of Northwich.

Cllr Sam Naylor, who sits on CWAC and Northwich Town Council, said: “A £70m investment is huge for the town. It will really put Northwich on the map.

“It will bring jobs, and it’s a shot in the arm for projects like Barons Quay as well. It gives an incentive for people who are dithering over Barons Quay to look and see it’s a place on the up.

“For anyone in that situation, this may just tip the balance. “

The launch of the Cheshire FA’s ‘Vision 20/20’ project took place at its headquarters in Moss Farm.

Neighbouring Winnington Park Primary School girls were invited to take part in a training session with Everton Ladies. It is thought the WSL1 club could move its entire operation to the new site.

Headteacher Jane Dale said: “It’s fantastic infrastructure that we can use year on year to increase participation and to challenge those stereotypes and social barriers that exist for girls in football.

“We have got some very able and talented girls here, and to have the opportunity to demo that and participate in the sport would be great.”

For the school’s PE coordinator Bria Hall, while the sport has already seen a boost in recent years, there is work to be done to achieve the FA’s vision of doubling women and girls’ participation by 2020.

She said: “I know there is still a long way to go, which is why we think that his will really increase particular and get the girls encouraged to join girls’ football.”

CWAC deputy leader Cllr Louise Gittins added last week that the proposal would create ‘a significant number’ of jobs, and boost non-football activities such as fishing, walking, running, education and nature projects.

The team behind the scheme hopes to lodge plans with CWAC by early 2019, and open the site at the end of the following year.