Great result for grassroots sport in Leeds as £9.6m multi-pitch hub welcomes first players

The finishing touches were put to Calverley’s Leeds City Council and Football Foundation-backed Woodhall Sports Hub – which is also suitable for rugby – last Thursday (September 10) after nearly a year of work.

And by Saturday morning its pitches were open, in use and buzzing with the sound of crunching tackles, offside appeals and goal celebrations.

The £9.6m complex has been developed by the council in partnership with the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.

The Foundation provided a £5.4m grant towards the facility through its Hubs programme, which works to deliver enhanced sporting opportunities in towns and cities nationwide.

It will soon be joined by another two new Football Foundation Hubs – at Holbeck and Green Park in Temple Newsam – as the council forges ahead with its Leeds Ambitions plan for making the city an even better place to live.

One of the key goals of the Leeds Ambitions is encouraging a greater take-up of sport and exercise so that physical and mental health inequalities across different local communities are reduced. 

Woodhall – which will have an official opening event next month – is perfectly placed to support this work, with facilities at the 8.3-hectare site including three full-sized and floodlit 3G pitches and two grass pitches.

Other amenities include outdoor play areas for younger visitors, while improved walking and running routes make it an attractive location for people wanting to keep fit outside of a team sports environment.

Open seven days a week, the complex is home to a new pavilion incorporating a community-friendly café and meeting space in addition to changing rooms and toilets.

The site also features parking provision, while native trees and wildflowers have been planted as part of landscaping work.

Funded by the council and the Football Foundation with support from section 106 developer contributions and the private sector, the Hub has been built on a former university sports ground off Woodhall Lane.

It is being managed by the National Football Trust, with its day-to-day running handled by the Leisure United charity.

The pitches are available for general hire, with a particular emphasis being placed on attracting women’s and junior clubs from the local area. All surplus income generated will be reinvested in outdoor sports provision across the city.

The council’s commitment to fairness and equality, meanwhile, is reflected by Woodhall’s pricing structure, which aims to ensure that people from disadvantaged backgrounds can access and enjoy the new facilities.

The opening will also help address a shortfall of pitches in and around Calverley, with many teams having struggled in recent years to secure suitable spots for regular training sessions or matches.

Work on the council’s second Football Foundation Hub is under way at Green Park in Temple Newsam, with a third set to start taking shape shortly at the former Matthew Murray High School site in Holbeck.

Councillor Salma Arif, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, said:

“The Woodhall Sports Hub is a fantastic asset for Leeds and I’m absolutely delighted that it is now open.

“We’re determined, as a council, to do everything we can to improve the health and well-being of people across the city, with schemes like Woodhall having a key part to play in helping us reach that goal.

“I’m sure the new pitches will be a big hit with all those using them, while the site’s other facilities – such as its play areas and the pavilion café and meeting space – mean this is a resource that will also benefit the wider community.

“What has been achieved here is testament to the power of partnership working, with the Football Foundation, National Football Trust, Leisure United and others all lining up alongside the council and making something very special happen.”

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: 

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, the FA and the Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country. 

“We’re delighted that the local community across west Leeds will now be able to better access the many benefits of grassroots sports thanks to the new facilities at the Woodhall Sports Hub.

“Our Hubs programme provides safe and accessible facilities that have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and bring people together, through football and other sports and activities, to strengthen local communities.

“The Football Foundation has provided more than £23m to fund three Hubs across Leeds with facilities at Green Park and Holbeck also being developed.”

Mark Coulson, Leisure United chief executive officer, said:

“Leisure United is delighted to welcome the local community to Woodhall Sports Hub and to see the site already bringing people together through sport and physical activity. This fantastic new £9.6m facility provides much-needed, high-quality pitches.

“Woodhall Sports Hub has been designed as a community asset for everyone – with outdoor play areas, improved walking and running routes and a welcoming café and meeting space, the Hub can support people of all ages and backgrounds to be more active, connect with others and enjoy the benefits of sport.

“It’s rewarding to help provide greater capacity for grassroots sport in Calverley and the surrounding communities. As a not-for-profit operator, we’re also proud that surplus income from the Hub will be reinvested into outdoor sports provision across Leeds, helping more people and groups benefit in the years ahead.

“Woodhall Sports Hub is a great example of what can be achieved through partnership, and we’re excited to play our part in making this facility a long-term asset for the community.”

For further information about Woodhall Sports Hub, including booking arrangements and prices, e-mail info.woodhall@leisureunited.com.

Notes to editors:

About the Football Foundation

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities and more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.

The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches, ensuring everyone has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested £1.35bn to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,400 3G pitches, 16,000 grass pitches and 1,800 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.5bn of partnership funding – totalling over £2.9bn investment in grassroots football so far.

In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country. 

For more information on the Foundation and its Local Football Facility Plans, visit the footballfoundation.org.uk website.

ENDS