The motivation to address the long-standing lack of sports facilities in Epsom and Ewell brought together two established community sports clubs to create Epsom & Ewell Sports Park CIC, a company limited by guarantee.
Both clubs are already delivering significant sporting, social and wellbeing benefits locally. By working collaboratively through a Community Interest Company, they are able to develop a long-term solution that places community benefit at its core. As a CIC, any surplus generated by the Sports Park must be reinvested back into the facilities and the wider sporting community it is intended to serve.
Company Objectives
- To build, develop and manage an inclusive, community-focused sports hub in the Borough of Epsom and Ewell
- To provide high-quality facilities for a wide range of sports and community activity
- To create a permanent home for football and netball in the borough, including the return of Epsom and Ewell Football Club to Epsom and Ewell
- To support participation, performance, health and wellbeing for all ages and abilities
Directors
Barry Gartell – Director
Vice Chairman, Epsom and Ewell Football Club
Natalie Swift – Director
Chair, The Downs Netball Club
Facility Officer, Surrey County Netball Association
Mel Tough – Director
Chairman of Epsom and Ewell Football Club
Directors
Mel Tough
I have lived in Epsom and Ewell Borough for Twenty-Seven Years and Michele the wife has all her life, both our sons grew up here and the eldest now Thirty decided to play football for Epsom Eagles at the age of Seven, he eventually played for Epsom and Ewell first team before going to university.
I continued to manage and coached over two hundred boys that are all grown up many with families and children.
Most of them we stay connected with though football and work.
I have a local business that helps the NHS and Local schools manage their computer networks and have an installation team all based in the Borough.
Natalie Swift
Natalie Swift has been part of the Epsom sporting community for more than 40 years. Having attended school in Epsom, she began playing and training in the borough at the age of 14 and has remained closely connected ever since, dedicating more than four decades to playing, coaching and developing netball.
As Chairman of The Downs Netball Club, Natalie leads Surrey’s only club competing in the Netball Premier League. The club supports more than 200 members from the age of four through to over fifty and has become recognised for its exceptionally high teenage retention, with more than 90% of girls continuing into adult netball through a coaching philosophy centred on confidence, belonging and long-term participation.
A former England international player and Superleague coach, Natalie has coached players from the age of four through to international level and has worked with thousands of players through clubs, schools and county programmes across Surrey. She previously served as Surrey Development Officer and is now Facilities Officer for Surrey County Netball Association, helping to shape the strategic development of community netball facilities across the county.
As a Director of Hook Road Arena CIC, Natalie has worked alongside fellow directors and project partners to help develop the vision for the Community Sports Hub, supporting the ambition to create a permanent home for netball, bring football back into the borough and deliver a lasting community asset for sport, recreation, health and wellbeing.
Barry Gartell
