National Football Centre's community project

YOUNGSTERS from across Burton and South Derbyshire were asked to suggest ideas of items that will be buried in a time capsule at the National Football Centre.

The idea, a joint project involving Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, the Football Association (FA), Burton and South Derbyshire College and main contractor Bowmer and Kirkland, will see the time capsule filled with the best examples and buried in the courtyard between the two hotels on the site, near Rangemore. Greg Crawford, general manager of Hilton and Hampton by Hilton St George's Park, said: "This is a development of national importance so we are delighted to be able to work with both our partners and the local community to ensure that its history and its future are recognised." Julie Harrington, managing director of St George's Park, said: "Community engagement is a key priority. The time capsule activity is a great start and we're delighted to be involved in the project."

To launch the time capsule project, students were invited to the facility where they took part in coaching sessions and a tour of the site.

Neil Brook, Bowmer and Kirkland project director, said: "St George's Park will be here for many future generations and so it is appropriate that the youngest footballing fans of today are involved with burying the time capsule."

Dawn Ward, principal of Burton and South Derbyshire College, said: "This is a great opportunity for young people to play their part in St George's Park's history.

"The content of the Commemoration time capsule will give its future discoverers a historical view of what the football centre meant to young people at the time of burial."