HEAD coach Iain Dowie, star striker Darren Bent and former Republic of Ireland international midfielder Matt Holland join a host of civic dignitaries when Charlton's redeveloped Sparrows Lane training complex is officially opened on Thursday.

Following a £600,000 cash injection from Barclays and the Football Foundation, the Community Centre 4 Skills site has been transformed with the installation of a new floodlit 11-a-side artificial pitch.

With the backing of Charlton Athletic Football Club and the Charlton Community Trust, the Eltham site is part of a £30million investment from a UK-wide Barclays Space for Sports initiative to create sustainable sports facilities.

Barclays will donate a further £45,000 for the sustainability of the site in addition to providing kit and equipment worth £5,000.

Barclays Group chief executive John Varley will cut the ribbon at the opening.

Steve Waggott, chief executive of the Charlton Community Trust, said: "Charlton is perceived by everyone as the community club and it will be exciting for young people and their parents to get involved with a Premiership football club."