Newport’s first indoor football centre, run by former Wales international footballer Paul Parry, has secured sponsorship deal that will help to encourage more people to get involved in the sport.

Langstone-based Henry Howard Finance has committed £10,000, over a two year period, to the initiative in a bid to support local entrepreneurship.

Mark Catton, group chief executive officer of Henry Howard Finance, said: “When we found out about the centre we knew we wanted to get involved. As a business, we help entrepreneurs to finance all kinds of projects, so we know about the challenges of getting something like this off the ground.

“Henry Howard Finance is proud to support such a fantastic local initiative, which is already providing opportunities for so many people to get involved in football, and we wish Paul every success for the future”.

Newport Indoor Football Centre is located on Usk Way and opened earlier this year, with two FIFA Pro standard 3G pitches, along with a spectator viewing area and coffee shop. As well as hiring out the facility to clubs and private groups, the centre runs its own junior football academy, has teamed up with local schools and runs corporate team building events.

Paul Parry, from Chepstow who played with Cardiff City during his career, said: “I am proud to create a top-class facility where the people of Newport, especially younger kids, can come all year round and feed their passion for football.

"Having facilities like this available in Newport is so important, but also involves a significant amount of investment, which means without the support of sponsors like Henry Howard Finance it just wouldn’t have been possible.”