Newcastle United fans inspire a new £115,000 stadium deep in the heart of Africa

Newcastle United fans inspire a new £115,000 stadium deep in the heart of Africa EXCLUSIVE: FIFA made its first-ever grant to Zambia after fundraising by an intrepid Tyneside couple - we first told the story of Crispin Mason-Jones and his wife, Dr Ellie Bond, in 2022 A new stadium inspired by Newcastle United fans will soon be built deep in the heart of Africa. FIFA made its first-ever grant to Zambia after years of fundraising and campaigning by an intrepid Tyneside couple - backed by the Daily Mirror. We first told the story of Crispin Mason-Jones, 64, and his wife, Dr Ellie Bond, 60, in 2022. We travelled with them to the rural community of Mfuwe to see the first kit delivered to a team known as the 'Mfuwe Mags,' inspired by the couple's love of Newcastle United. Now Crispin's plans for a new pitch at the 'JK Stadium' in the bush are taking shape with a £115,000 ($150,000) grant from FIFA, the first ever awarded to the African country. The exciting development will be built alongside a multi-sport facility and an educational outreach project. Crispin, 64, of Jesmond, Newcastle, said: "The grant is to go towards the cost of the main football pitch and the all-weather multi-sport facility. "The Zambian currency may have dropped in value since last year but it will still go a long way toward achieving our goals." He added: "It is for the region's people. "The educational buildings on the site were through our joint venture with the Project Luangwa Foundation. "They are now completed and were instrumental in us receiving the grant from FIFA. "We would not have received the grant without the new buildings. The exciting plans and the transformation of the land are show in the designs for the new stadium - and the work that has already been done on the ground. Aerial shots show the bare land transformed with areas marked out for the new football pitch and a vital all-weather facility. Crispin is now looking at options to ship both strips and Astroturf out to Africa from the UK, and fundraising for the transport costs. "We are now focusing on providing kit to schools rather than local teams to foster sport within them. "I did the original drawings and the early work with Project Luangwa, and I am now looking for Astroturf for the pitch." Apart from the Mags, The Valley Queens, who play in the Zambian National League, will also benefit from the work done by Project Luangwa at the JK Stadium. The Mirror joined Crispin as he brought £1,000 worth of black-and-white strips and 21 pairs of junior football boots to the Mags under-15 side. They have provided thousands more kits since then, taking them over 5,000 miles from Tyneside to Africa. Project Luangwa has another Toon supporter in CEO Ian Macallan. Originally from Durham, he provided education at remote bush schools alongside health and sporting programmes. Toon fan Ian, chief operating officer of Project Luangwa, works with communities in the area on tourism, education and gender programmes. In July, it was awarded a $150,000 grant from Fifa's Global Citizen Education Fund to develop sporting opportunities in Mfuwe. It is the first time Zambia has received a Fifa grant of this kind. The money is intended to provide facilities including a football pitch and facilities for tennis, basketball and netball. * Go to: https://gofund.me/35e11de9a; or www.projectluangwa.org/donate.