An all-weather full size football pitch in Swanage, Dorset, may become a reality after the Football Foundation has backed plans to install a 3G playing surface at Days Park.
Swanage Town and Herston Football Club has long dreamt of improving the main pitch and rebuilding the club house and sports centre, which had to be closed due to safety concerns, but over the years little progress has been made.
The Swans beat Cobham Sports 3-2 at Days Park
Grant from the Football Foundation
Now the Football Foundation, in order to provide a 3G pitch for Purbeck, is poised to offer to pay 70 percent of the estimated £1.2 million cost, as long as the club can fund the difference.
The club is looking to apply for the grant from the Football Foundation in autumn 2026 but needs to demonstrate the need from the community for the facility and is asking people to fill out a short survey to register their thoughts about the plans.
While the grass looks lush it is very wet and muddy
The mud clearly in evidence during this match in January 2026
“We are running out of space”
Chair of Days Park Community Sport Trust Nick Spetch said:
“At Swanage Town and Herston Football Club, we’ve got 26 teams – from the youth teams to the walking football groups – we have grown phenomenally but we are running out of space in the winter when the main pitch is too wet to use.
“A 3G surface will enable our teams to train and play at Days Park throughout the year and also provide a facility for Corfe Castle and Wareham.
“We really want to grow the sport and be inclusive, offering a suitable surface for all abilities. It would be good to bring Days Park back as a community hub for sport – we just need others to support our vision.”
The indoor sports centre behind the clubhouse has been condemned and will need to be removed due to asbestos in the roof
Planning permission for new indoor sports centre
Discussions between the Days Park Community Sport trustees, the football club, the Football Foundation, Sport England, and Swanage Town Council who owns the land, are ongoing to improve the whole site, including building a replacement indoor sports centre.
Planning permission has been granted for a new indoor training facility but it is estimated to cost several million pounds.
In the meantime, the opportunity from the Football Foundation to part fund a new 3G pitch has arisen and it’s hoped a new all weather pitch will kickstart the regeneration of the whole of Days Park.
Currently the Swans first team play in the Dorset Premier League but are looking at promotion to the Wessex League which would unlock more funding, however a number of matches have had to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch this season.
Plenty of potential for a 3G pitch to create a community sports hub for Purbeck
“We need your voice to make it happen”
Chair of Swanage Town and Herston Football Club Barry Audley said:
“We have an exciting opportunity to transform the sporting landscape at Days Park, along with Swanage and Purbeck, and we need your voice to make it happen.
“To secure the necessary support and funding, we need to demonstrate the demand and benefits for our community.
“At the moment, the most important step people can take is to complete our short community survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes of your time.
“Your feedback is the most powerful tool we have to turn this vision into a reality. Please feel free to share the survey link with friends and family.”
The survey will close on Friday 27th February 2026.
