£65,000 sports facility has an identity crisis

IT’s a new, £65,000 sports facility that’s transformed an unloved bit of wasteland into an exciting new outdoor games zone in Warrington.
There’s only one problem – it needs a name!
Now the people behind what’s currently known as the MUGA – short for Multi-Use Games Area – are running a competition for residents to come up with a better title.
As well as the winning name going up on a specially commissioned plaque at the facility in Brock Road, Birchwood, the person who proposes the successful title stands to win a stack of prizes.
A £100 Fit Bit, new football and New Balance trainers and a two-adult, two-child family ticket to a Warrington Wolves home game have been donated by Active Cheshire, New Balance and the Super League club.
The games area was made possible thanks to a £50,000 FCC Community Action Fund grant from funding body WREN with further financial support from New Balance, Birchwood Town Council, Friends of Oakwood Park, LiveWire and Birchwood High School.
WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Andrew Edwards, customer first manager of Birchwood-based Your Housing Group, another project partner, said the facility was already proving popular even though it has no name.
He said: “The MUGA’s already well used by youngsters and adults alike, but MUGA or Multi-Use Games Area is hardly a catchy title for it.
“So in keeping with this being a facility to benefit the community, it feels right to invite the community to come up with a better name.
“I’ve heard the patch of ground it’s on referred to as The Cage, which isn’t a bad name, but maybe someone can do better? We want ideas!”
Richard Smith, WREN’s grant manager for Warrington, said: “It’s wonderful to see something we have funded finally open and ready to make such a difference to young people across Birchwood. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”
To be in with a chance of winning the prizes, visit Your Housing Group’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/yourhousing  to suggest a name for the Birchwood MUGA.
Picture (l to r): Birchwood High students at the new “MUGA” on Brock Road, Ellie May Brownhill, Ellis Bird, Andrew Edwards from Your Housing, Birchwood High Deputy Head John Burnham, James Coates from Your Housing, Jake Barton and Cerys Turner.