A new 3G football pitch is set to rise in Gateshead, northern England, as a living memorial to 14‑year‑old Tomasz Oleszak, who was killed in a stabbing linked to knife crime.
Community‑driven tribute
The project, valued at £868,000, comes from a grant supplied by the Football Foundation, the charitable arm backed by the Premier League, the Football Association and the government.
It will be operated by the Gateshead Cleveland Hall Community Association, a volunteer‑run group that has fielded 27 teams for boys and girls aged five to 18 and maintains reserves to support the development.
The floodlit synthetic surface will replace a grass pitch that often becomes waterlogged in winter, and the development will also open pathways for disability football, walking football and a dedicated day for women’s and girls’ football.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the pitch will stand as a tribute to Tomasz and help the next generation grow on and off the field, reminding everyone of the tragic cost of youth violence.
Organizers expect the venue to host thousands of matches over the coming decades, offering a safe space for sport and community cohesion.