A £1.1m community sports facility has opened in Merton, south London, within the Tooting and Mitcham Football Club.

The Hub at Tooting and Mitcham features four different areas, including a 2,200sq ft (200sq m) Fitness Zone.

Each machine in the 40-station gym is equipped with IFI-accredited modification kits to ensure that the facility is suitable for use by disabled exercisers.

The Hub also features a play zone, community sports hall and a café/bar.

It has set a target of around 1,000 members, to be drawn from the local community.

Executive director Ian Warren said: “We are trying to use the draw of football as the stimulus for harder to reach groups to become more involved in an active lifestyle.”

The project was initiated to capitalise on unused space within the club’s ground and funded through a lottery grant.

Depending on its success, the Hub model may be rolled out within other semi-professional football clubs in the future.

The facility is owned by Tooting and Mitcham Sports & Leisure and operated by The Hub @ Tooting and Mitcham – a not-for-profit organisation run by Ian Warren, previously managing director of CCL Leisure, which was acquired by Parkwood Leisure last year. Details: www.visitthehub.com