University of Leeds: University opens community football hub
Grassroots sport in Leeds has received a huge boost with the unveiling of the Bodington Football Hub, a new facility for the community of Leeds.
Located at Sports Park Bodington – part of the University of Leeds – the new Hub is built in partnership with the Football Foundation and includes three full-size, artificial 3G floodlit football pitches, car parking and a pavilion with changing facilities and a café.
It has been made possible thanks to a £4.3m grant from the Football Foundation which is a charity supported by the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government.
As well as providing further investment in the student experience, we’ve been able to create a major new space for local football clubs in the region and we hope that it will inspire many more people to become active.
Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport & Physical Activity, University of Leeds
The result of partnership working between the University, the Football Foundation, West Riding County FA, and Leeds City Council, the Hub progresses the development of four sites in Leeds that together will provide 13 new full-size pitches, responding to the need for sporting facilities in and around the city.
Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at the University said: “The University is proud to be opening a new facility to support our students and the local community. The pitches have nine, six and five-aside facilities to encourage as many people as possible to take part, particularly children.
“We’re very grateful to the Football Foundation for helping to make this happen and looking forward to working with our partners to develop new ways to support the community.”
Over 60 children from Horsforth St. Margaret’s Junior Football Club in Leeds will play at the Hub as part of the launch celebrations. The site will be home to seven junior partner clubs and six senior clubs who will use the site for training and match play.
The University already partners extensively with community clubs and schools through its volunteering programme, which sees students coaching and officiating locally.
Wider community
Ella Williams, Activities & Opportunities Officer, Leeds University Union (LUU) said: “LUU is here to help students love their time at Leeds, and for me that includes being part of a wider community in the city and the region.
“While the Hub will host many community clubs, I know that our own footballers are excited about having access to this state-of-the-art facility and about the University and the Football Foundation contributing to local sport in this way.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added: “This is a brilliant example of how investment from our partners, the Premier League, The FA, Government and Sport England improves grassroots facilities across the country.”