We're thrilled to be able to let you know that the first phase of work has been completed on the restoration of the Football Field.

The drainage pipes have been laid and work on levelling the field, rolling, de-stoning and reseeding has now been completed.

The project to bring community football (and other sporting activities) back to the heart of the village has been ongoing since the field’s purchase in July 2005. Chappel Parish Council purchased the field, and is able to restore it, thanks to a capital grants by Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council.

Work to the Football Field has included drainage of the field, substantial levelling of the field itself to remove the bumps and dips, de-stoning and reseeding the field to provide a wonderful new playing surface. All the work is being carried out with full consultation with all interested parties - English Nature, the Environment Agency, Anglia Water, Colchester Borough Council and Chappel’s Millennium Green Trust.

Chappel Parish Council is looking forward to welcoming Chappel and Wakes Colne Football Team’s return to their home ground and expects the first games to begin at the start of the 2007 football season.

Sue Chamley, Chair of Chappel Parish Council, said: “This project is fantastic for the village. All the Councillors involved in the project have worked so hard, not just to succeed in obtaining grant funding, but also to ensure all those who have connections to the field are content with the proposed restoration. I think everyone – Councillors and residents alike - are looking forward to standing on the edge of the field, on a sunny Sunday morning next year, cheering our team at their home ground.”