'A fantastic asset for the city': £9.6m sports hub opens in west Leeds
The £9.6m Woodhall Sports Hub in west Leeds has opened after nearly a year of work
A grassroots sports hub in west Leeds has opened after nearly a year of work.
Final touches were put on Woodhall Sports Hub in Calverley last week, with the first games played on the new 3G pitches on Saturday morning (September 12).
The £9.6m complex has been developed by Leeds City Council in partnership with the Premier League, the FA and the Football Foundation.
Councillor Salma Arif, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, said the authority is determined to do everything in its power to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the city, with Woodhall playing a key part in reaching that goal.
“The Woodhall Sports Hub is a fantastic asset for Leeds and I’m absolutely delighted that it is now open,” she said.
“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.”
The 8.3-hectare site includes three full-sized and floodlit 3G pitches and two grass pitches suitable for both football and rugby.
Woodhall was built on former university sports grounds off Woodhall Lane. The pitches are available for general hire, with particular emphasis on attracting women’s and junior clubs from the area.
The Woodhall hub will have an official opening event in October and will soon be joined by two new hubs at Holbeck and Green Park in Temple Newsam.
It is managed by the National Football Trust, with the Leisure United charity running day-to-day operations.