Major boost for grassroots sport in West Yorkshire as £9.6m sports hub opens to first players

Sport and physical activity in Leeds has been strengthened by the opening of a multi-million pound community football facility.

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.

Read full story

Image credit: Leeds.gov.uk