FOOTBALL is on the verge of coming home to Deane this autumn - and fans are already cheering in anticipation.

Bolton's budding soccer stars have been given the chance to check-out the forthcoming facilities at the former Pikes Lane Stadium - Bolton Wanderers' first home ground.

Representatives of Wanderers' youth academy put a group of youngsters through a gruelling footballing lesson at Haslam Park School, on Wigan Road, Deane.

The school was hosting an open day set to demonstrate the facilities that will be available at the historic stadium site, now more commonly known as the King George V playing fields.

The scheme will be one of four innovative multi-use leisure facilities to be created in the area and it follows a £1.5 million Recreation Zone Scheme, funded jointly by Sport England Lottery Fund, the Single Regeneration Budget and Bolton Council's Leisure Services Department.

Cllr Gerald Riley, chairman of the leisure services committee said: "We were very pleased to have the stars of Wanderers future involved in a project that is linked so closely to the past."

The open-day offered many free activities including free cricket, football, basketball and netball taster sessions.

Pikes Lane Stadium was Bolton Wanderers' home venue when the club played its first league fixture in 1888. FOOTBALL is on the verge of coming home to Deane this autumn - and fans are already cheering in anticipation.

Bolton's budding soccer stars have been given the chance to check out the forthcoming facilities at the former Pikes Lane Stadium -- Bolton Wanderers' first home ground.

Representatives of Wanderers' Youth Academy put a group of youngsters through a gruelling footballing lesson at Haslam Park School, on Wigan Road, Deane.

The school was hosting an open day set to demonstrate the facilities that will be available at the historic stadium site, now more commonly known as the King George V playing fields. The scheme will be one of four innovative multi-use leisure facilities to be created in the area and it follows a £1.5 million Recreation Zone Scheme, funded jointly by Sport England Lottery Fund, the Single Regeneration Budget and Bolton Council's Leisure Services Department.

Cllr Gerald Riley, chairman of the leisure services committee said: "We were very pleased to have the stars of Wanderers future involved in a project that is linked so closely to the past."

The open-day offered many free activities including free cricket, football, basketball and netball taster sessions.

Pikes Lane Stadium was Bolton Wanderers' home venue when the club played its first league fixture in 1888.

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