ENGLAND footballer Glen Johnson is behind a company set to create a football academy in Woodford Bridge.
Mr Johnson, 28, is a board member of Elite Soccer Centres Holdings Limited, which has planning permission to build 10 floodlit practice pitches and a clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields in Chigwell Road.
The Guardian understands that Mr Johnson, who plays at right back for Liverpool, is the personal guarantor of a loan from bank Santander for half the estimated £2million cost of the development.
The company were given planning permission to build the centre in May 2011.
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