Two Tottenham Hotspur players have helped to open a new learning disabilities hub and sports centre.

Spurs midfielders Benjamin Stambouli and Nabil Bentaleb officially opened the centre at Barnet and Southgate College, in High Street, Southgate where they showed off their indoor hockey skills in a match against students.

The centre of excellence provides specialist facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, physiotherapy, and a rebound room with specialist sports equipment, a sports hall, drama room, recreational garden and arts and craft rooms to more than 200 students each year.

It is funded by the college and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. The foundation's chief executive Grant Cornwell hopes the centre can help students “flourish".

He said: “As an inclusive organisation, we know only too well how people with learning disabilities can flourish with the right expertise, help and support behind them. For many young people, having access to specialist facilities like this is fundamental to growing as an individual.

“We’re very proud to be officially opening the new centre of excellence and to be providing life-changing opportunities for disabled people, supporting them on to innovative education, training and employment pathways alongside the development of inclusive disability sports.”

David Byrne, principal of Barnet & Southgate College, said: “We will be working in partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and the Premier League Charitable Fund to provide an inspirational centre of excellence programme that will empower students with learning disabilities, enabling them to reach their full potential and to increase their economic wellbeing within a practical and vocational learning environment.

“It’s an exciting partnership for the college and we are proud of the fact that the new centre of excellence is destined to become the key lead facility for sport and physical activity across north London.”