Imperial celebrates the opening of its new sports ground

Staff and students have gathered to mark the opening of the College's new 27 acre sports ground in Heston.

On 15 October Heston was officially opened with an afternoon of sport and activities which saw student teams taking to the new pitches as they competed in football, rugby and hockey.

There was also an opportunity for attendees to see the site’s indoor facilities in use, with a number of performances from student societies including cheerleading and ballroom dancing.

Debra Humphris, Vice Provost (Education) welcomed the guests, saying: “Today has been a long time in the making but it’s great to finally be here today and to open this amazing new facility.

“It is just the latest phase in the evolution of sports facilities at Imperial and another example of our ongoing investment in the student experience at the College.”

Sport Imperial has been working closely with student sports teams during the transition to the new Heston site, making sure that they are able to make the most of the new facilities on offer.

The site’s facilities include tennis and netball courts, cricket pitches as well as grass space for 5 football and 2 rugby pitches and a shooting range.

The site’s extensive indoor facilities are also available for students to use and include a large theatre and dance hall, squash and basketball courts as well as bars and social spaces.

Badminton at Heston

Neil Mosley, Head of Sport Imperial, said: “Heston allows us to offer a range of new spaces that we didn’t previously provide and I’m excited to see how student sport at the College develops with these new facilities on offer.”

Later in the afternoon sports teams gathered for the official opening of the new Teddington Bar. The bar, one of three on the site, features a  photographic tribute to the College's old Teddington Sports Ground.

Teddington Bar

Tom Wheeler, Imperial College Union President, said: “It was great to see the facilities at Heston filled with student sport and activity today. I’m excited for the future of student sport here at Heston, and look forward to the achievements that take place in the future.

“The ground at Teddington had an incredibly rich heritage and history in the hearts of many students and alumni at the College and it’s great that these associations are preserved at Heston through the Teddington Bar.”

Find out more about the new Heston site.

See below for a slideshow of photos from the event.