Sajid Javid, the former Culture, Media and Sport secretary, helped to launch a new £1.3m (US$1.8m, €1.6m) football facility in his home constituency of Bromsgrove.

Javid – who is now secretary of state for Business, Innovation and Skill – cut the ribbon on a new artificial grass pitch and changing room pavilion for South Bromsgrove High School, which received funding from the Premier League and Football Association (FA) Facilities Fund.

The two organisations committed £500,000 (US$709,131, €631,698) to the project, which was delivered by the Football Foundation, while Sport England contributed £150,000 (US$212,739, €189,509). The rest of the funds were generated from other sources.

The investment enabled the school to replace an old natural grass pitch which was prone to waterlogging, and to build two dual-gender changing rooms, a community room and a kitchen.

South Bromsgrove High School worked with the Worcestershire FA and Football Foundation to compile a five-year football development plan for the site, which predicts that 59 new teams will be created over the next five years as a result of the facility.

There is a big emphasis on creating football opportunities for women and girls, with a plan to establish 14 teams by the end of the plan. Disability football coaching sessions will also take place on the facility.

Javid said the facilities will have a “positive impact on the local community” in terms of providing opportunities to play and making people healthier.

He added: “Foundation grants not only improve grassroots sports facilities but create a multitude of jobs for architects, builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and many others in the process.”