THE BRIEF
At the heart of Selhurst, South London, you’ll find the vibrant Merky FC HQ. A football and community centre brought to life through the leadership of Stormzy, the South London rapper with a heart for philanthropy. Since 2018, the Stormzy Scholarship has been making higher education dreams come true, covering tuition for two students yearly at Cambridge University.
Merky FC made its debut in 2022, echoing the name of Stormzy’s record label and embarking on a fantastic mission. It’s here to celebrate the rich cultures intertwined with football while elevating the local community. Additionally, it’s tackling the pressing issue of the underrepresentation of black individuals in senior football positions. With only 4.4% of Premier League backroom staff roles filled by black professionals, dwarfed by the 43% of players. Merky FC stands for football careers, aiming to cultivate inspiration among London’s youth.
Joining hands with Merky FC are renowned partners like Adidas, EA Sports, Women in Football. As well as this leading football clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United have joined the effort.
During the planning stages of Merky HQ the Selhurst Sports Arena was highlighted as a potential home. At the time, the pitch was overlooked and required transformation. The changing rooms were also dilapidated and needed mass work. Its centrality to the local community, however, played a pivotal role in making it the site of choice and works were shortly underway.
OUR WORK
In the Summer of 2022, our team at Spatial Dimensions stepped onto the site, guided by KSS Architects, to initiate our surveying works.
The journey began with a topographical survey to capture the essence of the site in 2D CAD format. With the changing rooms slated for demolition, capturing an accurate picture of the land was critical. We needed to ensure that architects were fully equipped with precise layouts to design a space that would accommodate the community’s aspirations while remaining within the historic area of the Selhurst Sports Arena.
Our meticulous surveying facilitated the identification of legal boundaries through 2D topographical information. This helped gain planning permission quickly. Following swift execution and attention to detail, we promptly advanced to conducting underground utility surveys, instructed by KSS. This generated a complete underground utility stat pack and full tracing of all services.
Mindful of the Selhurst Arena being open to the public, our surveys were scheduled to avoid interrupting activities, maintaining harmony between our presence and the ongoing activities.
THE OUTCOME
Delivering topographical and underground utility data on time and to specification led to continued work with our client.
Merky FC opened its doors on May 2, 2024, and within a mere four months, the benefits are undeniable.
The full building area has been upgraded to a 500m2 facility, over two floors. This now acts as a community hub for sports and the arts. The site features a new 3G pitch, a state-of-the-art music studio, a games room and multi-purpose rooms for the community. From the top of the range pitch to the EA sports gaming hub, all facilities are readily accessible and bookable online.
Operated by the Communities First Foundation, the site’s legacy of community engagement continues into its new chapter with Merky FC.
In May 2024, Merky FC reported they had found training or placement opportunities for 60 young people in three Premier League clubs, the Scottish FA, Sky Sports, ITV and other companies with ties to football and media. We have every confidence these amazing facilities will continue to have a vastly positive impact on future generations.
