The University of Cambridge unveiled its new Mumford Sports Pitch on Grange Road with an official ceremony last Friday (07/11).

The project was a collaboration with CUAFC (Cambridge University Football Club) and CURUFC (Cambridge University Rugby Club), who jointly own the grounds.

The renovations form part of the University’s Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity, which aims to enable students and community members to spend longer hours playing sport and throughout more months of the year.

The addition of floodlights and artificial grass means that users of the pitch can now play over 80 hours of sport per week, compared to 10 previously.

The renovations will allow players of several sports – including lacrosse, rugby union, football, Australian rules football, rugby league and American football – to use the pitches all year long.

The launch event brought together official guests, such as Lord Lieutenant Julie Spence OBE, and University sporting stars, like Anna Hipkiss, CUAFC’s Women’s President, and Josh Taylor, CUAFC’s Men’s Co-President.

University executives including Jess Tayenjam, Chair of CURUFC, Bhaskar Vira, Chair of the Sports Committee and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, and Mark Brian, Director of Sport, were also present.

The Grange Road sports pitches were first set up in 1896, and have been jointly owned by CUAFC and CURUFC ever since. While the pitches have been the official home of these clubs for many years, CUAFC have not trained there since the 1970s, due to poor pitch quality and pitch time restrictions. This inauguration will enable their return.

Previously, only University students could access the Grange Road pitches, but now community groups, schools, organisations, and clubs can book them too.

Hugh Mumford, the principal donor who gave his name to the pitch, said: “I am delighted to be part of the exciting new development at Grange Road. I hope that this new pitch will be used by many, from those already playing at a high level to those who decide to give sport a try.

“Sport played an important role in my time at Cambridge and its impact has continued well beyond my university years. The lessons learned on the sports field have proven invaluable in the workplace and in life. It gives me great pleasure therefore to support a project which will bring about an increase in sporting activity both for students and the wider community.”

The project marks only Phase One of a broader remodelling of the Grange Road sports grounds. Phase Two aims to extend the pavilion and improve accessibility, alongside introducing joint medical facilities and improving the current changing facilities. The project also endeavours to introduce community spaces and build new viewing stands.