A GROUP of premiership footballers are behind a company set to establish a football academy in Woodford Bridge, it has emerged.

Last week the Guardian reported Liverpool right back Glen Johnson was involved with Elite Soccer Centres Holdings Limited, which has planning permission to build 10 floodlit practice pitches and a clubhouse at Ashton Playing Field in Chigwell Road.

Now the firm's accountant Melvin Gandz has confirmed that three other England internationals are also involved in the project.

These are Chelsea left back Ashley Cole, Stoke striker Peter Crouch and Ledley King, the former Tottenham Hotspur captain who was recently forced to retire from the game due to a persistent knee injury.

A further six unnamed Premier League players and one Championship player are also believed to be involved.

Project manager for Elite Soccer Centres Holdings Ltd, Adam Jenner said the project is about bringing football back to grass-root level.

He added: "The east London area around the Essex border is naturally a hub for grass-roots football.

"The principal investor spent a lot of time at the Premiership football academy local to the area and like all the investors wanted to give something back to the community.

"So what better can they do than build a football facility that is complete in terms of what it can provide. It will be one of the best in the area."

The Guardian understands Elite Soccer Centres recently paid a bond of approximately half the £2million cost of the development, guaranteed by the players, to secure the 65-year lease on part of the playing fields from Redbridge Council.

The company were granted planning permission for the academy in May 2011.

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