Along with Premier League football, Crystal Palace will now also be home to a major NHS vaccination centre. (Above photo: Dan Weir/PPAUK)

The Premier league football club has donated Selhurst Park, its home ground in south east London, to the NHS to be used as a major vaccination centre. 

The Glaziers Lounge in the Main Stand has been adapted into a mass vaccination hub which will accommodate NHS staff, volunteers and local residents who have been invited to get their  Covid-19 vaccination. 

Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish said: ”Delivering the vaccine to our local community is imperative if we are to help people return to their lives. We are proud that Selhurst Park is playing an important role in aiding the NHS with the launch of this vaccination centre.” 

Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium is also to become a vaccination centre, NHS England has said. 

The clubs are among a number of new mass vaccination centres which came online last week. 

General View of the new NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Centre at Selhurst Park Stadium, Croydon home to Premier League side Crystal Palace. Photo: Dan Weir/PPAUK.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director said: “The NHS Covid vaccination programme, the biggest in health service history, is off to a strong start with more than nine million Vaccinations delivered across England.” 

There are now 90 large vaccination centres, 192 sites run by High Street pharmacies, more than 1,000 GP-led vaccination services and 250 hospital “hubs” delivering vaccines. 

Dr Agnelo Fernandes, lead GP for Croydon, stated: “Our teams have put in a mammoth effort to get this vaccination centre up and running and we’re incredibly grateful for the facilities and time provided by Crystal Palace Football Club to ensure it is a success.”