Football association files plans for £4m ‘community sport hub’

The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association says it has “exciting and far-reaching plans” for the development of a £4m football centre on the site of the former Westfield School.

The Westfield Community Football Centre will not only house the County FA but will also see a “sporting hub” for residents created on the 28-acre site.

James Hope-Gill, chief executive of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association, said: “The creation of this community sporting hub will put sport at the heart of the community in south-east Sheffield and use sport as a tool for community regeneration.

“Football has significant potential to be used as a catalyst to encourage physical activity and healthy living for all the community across a wide range of programmes, some of which won’t be directly related to football.”

At present the site, which used to house the old school sports centre, offers eight poorly-drained pitches with vandalised changing facilities which are used by around 20 weekend football and rugby union teams.

The new centre hopes to run an “organised development and community programme” which will see the facility used seven days a week for football, rugby union, jogging, cycling and archery.

There will also be coaching and education courses provided for up to 1,500 people.

Facilities proposed for the site include a full-size artificial floodlit football pitch with a stand; five-a-side pitches; up to eight grass pitches for football and rugby; a Fitness Unlimited gym built and managed by Sheffield International Venues; a jogging and cycle track; a physiotherapy clinic; meeting rooms; classrooms and changing rooms.

A new access route to the centre will be created via Moss Way as part of the plans.

The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association says it has been “working closely” with neighbours, including Mosborough Miners’ Welfare which has managed the site for the past five years.

Mr Hope-Gill said: “The county FA has developed strong links with the local community in determining what their needs are and the exact activities and facilities required on site, ensuring the community will regard the site as being for them, as well as ensuring the current teams playing on the site still have access.

“We believe our plans would contribute significantly to the delivery of local priorities outlined in the south east area plans.

“The facilities and programmes that will be developed by the county FA and other agencies will address local training, grassroots club development, active play for children, local recruitment, community activities and potentially GP referrals and other health initiatives, in addition to expanding existing specific football initiatives.”

It is hoped the relocation of the county FA’s office to the site will allow its activities – including seminars, coaching, courses, tournaments, festivals, conferences and events – to be centralised, helping to cut down on current expenditure on hiring facilities.

Mr Hope-Gill added: “It is essential the site becomes the hub of the community, not only for footballing activities but also by groups who are not involved in football, both young and old.”

Arnie Hattersley, from Mosborough Miners Welfare, said the group had been involved in the scheme from the start.

He added: “The vision for the centre is to provide a sport facility for the whole community and at the same time use sport to deliver wider social outcomes of inclusion, crime reduction, health improvement, educational attainment and civic pride for residents, utilising the power of sport to build a better future.

“We have provided valuable input into what local people need and want, as well as managing the site and ensuring teams can keep on playing while the project has been developed.”

Funding for the community project is expected to come from grants as well as some capital from the county FA.

Subject to planning approval, building work could start in 2012 and the site could open the following year.

Steve Brailey, chief executive of SIV, which runs sporting facilities in Sheffield including Ponds Forge sports centre and the Don Valley Stadium, said: “SIV is delighted to work in partnership with the county FA in this important community project.”