A STATE-OF-THE-ART football facility for the community will kick-start its career in North Weald on Saturday.
Plans for the five-a-side pitch and function room – boasting Sky Sports and a seven-foot HD television – have been two years in the making.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday manager Peter Shreeves will be on hand to pass on some tips and tricks throughout the big launch day.
The man behind the plan is Bradley Smith, who owns the land at the North Weald Golf Club.
He said: "We have been planning this for two years and we really got the ball moving earlier this year.
"We have had great support from the local parish council who have really got behind this facility.
"There is nothing like this is in the area – if you want to play five-a-side you have to travel to Romford or elsewhere."
The benefit to the community is a key part of the business, which is a joint venture between him and his wife Stacey.
The 47-year-old said: "We want to work with local schools and let them use this facility for free if they want to.
"We are not a not-for-profit business, but being affordable and giving something back to the community is incredibly important to me.
"We are not just focusing on being here for the younger people, although that is very important – we want to offer something for all ages.
"We are looking into doing walking football for the over 60s, which is basically football but without running.
"It means those who love a kick about but don't have the ability to peg it around on a pitch for an hour-and-a-half can still have fun.
"We will be running our own leagues and tournaments and hopefully lots of people will get involved."
Mr Smith, who has owned a nursery on the site for three years, is looking forward to the launch, which hundreds of people are expected to attend.
The father-of-two said: "We will be having a hog roast, a professional freestyler, a football tournament and training sessions. It is free to turn up at and I hope loads of people come along to join in the fun."
Stacey Smith, Bradley's wife, added: "It has been a long time in progress and it is great to finally be able to have a launch event.
"We will be putting loads on for the day and it will be very emotional to finally see it completed.
"The facility will be incredible, we have 3G pitches and brand new facilities all going in."
The tournament on the day will be the Joe Daines Memorial Trophy, named after Mr Smith's grandfather who had a great love of playing football.
It is expected to become an annual event in memory of the former FA-qualified referee who died at the age of 96.
The launch day is being held at Shooters Football, off Rayley Lane, between 11am and 5pm.
For more information log on to shootersfootball.co.uk
