North Sheen Recreation Ground

Image:North Sheen Rec pavilion.JPG

North Sheen, in the former Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey),Mills, A D (2010). A Dictionary of London Place Names, Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-956678-X}} was first marked on maps from 1904. At that time the area was mostly undeveloped and was used to grow fruit and vegetables for market, but by 1920 residential building was underway. North Sheen was incorporated into Kew in 1965 when the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was created.{{cite book | title=Kew Past | publisher=Phillimore & Co. Ltd. | author=Blomfield, David | author-link=David Blomfield | year=1994 | pages=131 | isbn=0-85033-923-5}}

Opened in June 1909 and extended in 1923, the recreation ground was originally part of an orchard belonging to the Popham Estate, owned by the Leyborne Pophams whose family seat was at Littlecote House, Wiltshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=215|title=North Sheen Recreation Ground|publisher=London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames|date=24 November 2010|accessdate=12 January 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010021424/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=215|archivedate=10 October 2013}}

During the Second World War the recreation ground was used for allotments and there was an underground public shelter opposite what is now the sports pavilion clubhouse.{{cite web | url=http://www.kewvillagemarket.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Circular-Issue-19.pdf | title=A resident remembers: North Sheen Recreation Ground | publisher=Antony Roberts | work=Circular 19 | date=May 2012 | accessdate=28 January 2013 | author=Featherstone, Roy}}

Known locally as "The Rec", it now contains football pitches, a children's paddling pool, two extensive playgrounds, a large dog-free grassed area and a sports pavilion clubhouse, set amongst trees and shrubs. The clubhouse, which cost £1 million{{cite news |url= http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/richmondnews/4649399.Work_kicks_off_on___1m_sports_pavillion/?ref=rss|title=Work kicks off on £1 million sports pavilion |newspaper=Richmond and Twickenham Times|author=Mason, Ian |date= 26 September 2009|accessdate=2 May 2011}} and opened in September 2011,{{cite news |url= http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/richmondnews/9237119.print/|title=Delight as new pavilions finally ready|newspaper=Richmond and Twickenham Times|author=Fleming, Christine |date= 8 September 2011|accessdate=9 April 2017}} includes a community cafe and a community hall.{{cite web | url=http://pavilionclubhouse.co.uk/ | title=The Clubhouse and Hall | publisher=The Pavilion Cafe and Clubhouse | accessdate=16 January 2013}} A new children's adventure playground was opened in 2016,{{cite news | url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/14199114.Former_mayor_grapples_with_zip_wire_at_adventure_playground_opening/ | title=Former mayor grapples with zip wire at adventure playground opening | work=Richmond and Twickenham Times | date=13 January 2016 | accessdate=13 January 2016 | author=Ambrose, Tom}} and an outdoor gym for adults in 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://e-voice.org.uk/fonsr/ |title=Kew residents encouraged to get active with free gym classes |date=12 June 2017 |publisher=Friends of North Sheen Recreation Ground |access-date=22 July 2018}}

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Kew Park Rangers

| current =

| image = North Sheen Rec KPR badge.JPG

| fullname = Kew Park Rangers Football Club

| nickname =

| founded = 1997

| ground = North Sheen Recreation Ground

| capacity =

| owner =

| chairman =

| manager =

| league =

| season =

| position =

| topscorer =

|pattern_la1=

| website = http://www.kewparkrangers.co.uk/

}}

North Sheen Recreation Ground is also home to a local football club for children, Kew Park Rangers, which is a Football Association [http://www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball/parentsandvolunteers/Runningaclub/Runningaclub/CharterStandard Charter Standard] Community Football Club,{{cite news | url=http://footballfoundation.newsweaver.co.uk/Newsletter/dl0ih2eza3a?a=2&p=19044595&t=19801705 | title= The amazing transformation at North Sheen Rec | work=Top Corner | year=2011 | agency=Football Foundation | accessdate=5 April 2013 | location=London}} the highest level of accreditation under The FA Charter Standard kitemark programme. The club's name is a word play on Queens Park Rangers F.C., a London football team which is also known as QPR.{{cite web | url= http://kewparkrangers.co.uk/?page_id=7 | title=About Kew Park Rangers | publisher=Kew Park Rangers | accessdate=12 January 2013}}

The club began in 1997 in Westerley Ware, a small park by Kew Bridge.{{cite web|url= https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/parks_and_open_spaces/find_a_park/westerley_ware_recreation_ground|title=Westerley Ware Recreation Ground |publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |accessdate=23 March 2019}}{{cite news | url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/14558836.Chairman_of_community_football_club_that_grew_from_10_children_to_800_players_is_honoured_by_the_Queen/ | title=Kew Park Rangers chairman Jean-Francois Burford honoured with British Empire Medal | work=Richmond and Twickenham Times | date=16 June 2016 | accessdate=20 June 2016 | author=Odling, George}}

As the crowd of children grew, alongside tournament and further development ambitions, the club decided to become official and registered for the Surrey County Football Association. Richmond Council eventually came up with a team pitch and a move to the North Sheen Recreation Ground was secured. It became Kew Park Rangers Football Club in summer 1999, and continues to grow. In 2015 it was the Football Association's National Charter Standard Community Club of the Year.

The club has a close working relationship with Fulham F.C. and it regularly employs the services of Fulham coaches to assist and support its coaches.

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

2022

London Sport Awards

2019 – Finalist – Club of the Year

Richmond Heroes Awards

2018 – Highly Commended – Outstanding Sporting Achievement

Football Business Awards

2018 – National Winner – Best Football Community Scheme – Non-Premier League

2016 – Finalist – Best Club Marketing Initiative – Non-Premier League

2016 – Finalist – Best Football Community Scheme – Non-Premier League

2015 – Finalist – Best Football Community Scheme – Non-Premier League

Surrey County FA Respect Award

2014–15 – Winner

Surrey Youth League Toshiba Fair-Play Award

2017–18 – Winner

2016–17 – Winner

2012–13 – Winner

2006–07 – Winner

FA Charter Standard Award

2015–16 – National Winner – Charter Standard Community Club

2015–16 – Regional Winner – Charter Standard Community Club

2008–09 – County Winner – Charter Standard Community Club

2006–07 – County Winner – Charter Development Club

2005–06 – County Winner – Charter Development Club

2002–03 – Regional Winner – Charter Standard Club

FA Charter Standard Community Club

2008–09

FA Charter Standard Development Club

2004–05

FA Charter Standard club

2001–02

The recreation ground was given a Green Flag Award in 2018.{{Cite press release |title=Eighteenth borough park to receive Green Flag award |date=18 July 2018 |publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/eighteenth_borough_park_receive_green_flag_award |access-date=18 July 2018}}

• Parks, open spaces and nature reserves in Richmond upon Thames

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/parks_and_open_spaces/find_a_park/north_sheen_recreation_ground/ Official website]
• [https://e-voice.org.uk/fonsr/ Friends of North Sheen Recreation Ground]
• [http://www.kewparkrangers.co.uk/ Kew Park Rangers]

{{LB Richmond}}

Category:1909 establishments in England

Category:Gyms in the United Kingdom

Category:Kew, London

Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Category:Sport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames