14 August 2026
Luke Myer MP joined families, community groups and Middlesbrough FC Foundation this week as the doors of the new Southlands Community and Sports Hub were opened to local residents for a packed summer football festival.
The free Utilita Football Festival brought families together for an afternoon of football, games, activities and entertainment, with Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and Boro striker Tommy Conway also joining the event.
The new Southlands hub, on Ormesby Road, has been delivered by Middlesbrough’s Labour Council in partnership with MFC Foundation. It includes a new community building, upgraded 3G facilities and a new grass football pitch. It will provide a permanent base for grassroots football, youth programmes, mentoring, employability support, education and wider community activity.
Luke Myer MP has backed the project throughout its development, visiting construction and praising the scheme in Parliament, highlighting the benefits for communities including Park End and Ormesby. He is also working closely with the MFC Foundation on its new facility being developed in Loftus, helping extend the Foundation’s work in East Cleveland too.
The Southlands investment comes as East Middlesbrough prepares for a wider programme of regeneration. Last year, Luke Myer MP secured £20 million of Pride in Place funding from the Labour Government for Park End, Netherfields, Ormesby, Priestfields and surrounding communities, doubling the existing government investment already committed elsewhere in East Middlesbrough. The funding will fit with the investment and activity coming via the MFC Foundation, and CEO Charlotte Dinsdale will co-chair the local Pride in Place Board, helping ensure the area’s different investments work together and deliver the biggest possible benefit for residents.
It marks a major change after years in which East Middlesbrough was too often overlooked following austerity under Conservative governments and instability under the previous Independent and Conservative-led council.
Luke Myer MP said:
“It was fantastic to see the new Southlands site packed with families and young people. I’ve backed this project from the start and I’m proud of the part our Labour Council, MFC Foundation and Labour Government have played in making it happen.
For too long communities across TS3 were expected to make do with less. Years of austerity left East Middlesbrough overlooked and underinvested. Now that is changing – we’ve got millions in Pride in Place funding coming into our area, we’ve got this fantastic facility open, and there is real momentum behind East Middlesbrough.
“I’ll keep working with Chris, Charlotte and local residents to make sure these investments join up and deliver for Park End, Netherfields, Ormesby, Priestfields and the whole of East Middlesbrough. These communities will never be forgotten while I’m their MP.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said:
“This is exactly the sort of investment residents in East Middlesbrough deserve. The new Southlands site brings high-quality facilities and, more importantly, opportunities right into the heart of the community.
“It will help more people get active, develop new skills and fulfil their potential.”
MFC Foundation CEO Charlotte Dinsdale said:
“Southlands gives us a fantastic new base to deepen our work with communities across Middlesbrough.
“We want to create opportunities, improve life chances and make sure people of all ages can benefit from sport, education, employment support and the wider work of the Foundation. It was brilliant to see so many local families enjoying the site this week.”