SAINTS legend Lawrie McMenemy officially opened a New Forest village sports ground - keeping a promise he made ten years ago.

The ex-Saints ace told Sway parish leaders in 1994 if they could convert a patch of land into a thriving sports facility he would come back to open it.

The former Southampton manager who led Saints to FA Cup glory in 1976 was as good as his word as he revealed a commemorative plaque at the Jubilee Playing Fields.

A decade of work has gone into transforming the land into football and cricket pitches and tennis courts. About £500,000 has been pumped into the project as well as free contributions from Sway-based professionals Terry Simpson and Richard Elliot.

Lawrie was invited to the club following the completion of the final portion of the project, funded with a £140,000 cash injection from the Football Foundation.

The grant paid for the inside of the modern pavilion to be furnished with changing rooms, toilets and automatic lights and showers.

Lawrie told crowds: "I'm delighted to be here. I was in Portugal the other week but they've got nothing there like this. This is what real English country life is about."

Val Fairhurst, chairman of Sway Parish Council, said: "The newly finished sports ground is splendid for the parish. It's been a long term project but we've more or less reached our goals. It's a symbol of village unity."

Funding for the Jubilee Playing Fields also came from Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Playing Fields, New Forest District Council, Sway Relief in Sickness and Sway-based charity SWAG.