Newcastle legends see how Premier League funding has boosted Heaton Stannington

Premier League Stadium Fund, Shay Given, Shola Ameobi, Heaton Stannington

Shay Given and Shola Ameobi visit non-league club to discover how England football pyramid benefits from Premier League Stadium Fund

You might have heard about a team who play in black and white stripes in Newcastle.

Two miles from Premier League giants Newcastle United's St James Park are their non-league neighbours Heaton Stannington FC, who share the same colours and average 400 supporters on matchdays in English football's eighth tier.

As part of "More Than a Game", Magpies legends Shola Ameobi and Shay Given came out of retirement to train with The Stan's first team - and see how the club have used £250,000 from the Premier League Stadium Fund to make upgrades at Grounsell Park.

"We all started out with grassroots football. Everyone does. It's often where your love for the game first develops and being here brings me back to my own days as a young player in Ireland," says Shay Given, who made a record 354 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United.

Ameobi and Given see impact of Premier League investment in non-league facilities

"It's fantastic to see money filtering down to help clubs like this one improve the game day experience. It shows the great work the Premier League do for hundreds of clubs up and down the country."

Heaton Stannington co-chair Scott Lyndon explains: "Over the last 10 years, we've taken a quarter of a million pounds [£250,000] via the Premier League Stadium Fund for crucial projects which have enabled us to grow as a club.

"We've been able to invest in covered seating, but also the bar, hospitality room and club shop. Through that, we've been able to double our revenue on matchdays.

"It's also given supporters a better experience. With the expansion to our bar, we can serve fans more quickly - which means less queues on matchday and keeps them happy. We have our own specially brewed beer, which I'd recommend!"

Former Newcastle United striker Ameobi adds: "I grew up and went to school just down the road from here. I've spent a few nights playing here against Heaton Stannington in the Newcastle United youth team and it's nice to come back to see how the club has developed and improved.

"Having strong clubs at this level supports the whole football pyramid. We want to see as many people playing and enjoying football as possible."

Heaton Stannington are toasting success on the pitch, too, as the current champions of the Northumberland Senior Cup, winning the 2025 final hosted at St James Park.

Heaton Stannington defeated Newcastle United Under-21s in the semi-finals and the Premier League side donated their share of gate receipts to the non-league side.

This was not the first time that Grounsell Park had welcomed elite players. Heaton Stannington's current yellow away shirt is a homage to them facing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Gabon national team in a friendly ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The club's teenage volunteer club shop manager William quips: "That is a famous night in the club's history. Aubameyang might have scored two against Heaton Stan that day, but he scored five in total against Newcastle in the Premier League so we must be the better team!"

Now celebrating 25 years, the Premier League Stadium Fund has distributed more than £220 million to fund improvements at to over 1,000 men's and women's clubs.

Eligible FA-affiliated men's and women's clubs can apply for funding via the Premier League Stadium Fund website.

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