Proposal launched to build new community sports hub with football and boxing in disused area of Sheffield park
“Facilities are at such a minimum for grassroots football and it’d be great to have something for people”
The chairman of a local Sheffield football club is leading a project to transform a disused area of a local park into an exciting new community sports and wellbeing hub.
Rick Jones, who coaches Sevenhills junior football club with a company called Littlenippers, wants to turn the disused bowling greens and pavilion on Greenhill Park into something that everyone in the community can benefit from.
Rick told the Sheffield Star: “Facilities are at such a minimum for grassroots football and it’d be great to have something for people.
“Five of our teams played three times a week due to the number of games we had postponed in the winter months and I know loads of coaches that struggled to even finish their season.
“Having a 4G football pitch tailored for both five-a-side and seven-a-side could help solve for teams throughout the city.”
Rick’s idea comes amid a report earlier in the year where the Star delved into the issues coaches face at grassroots level - ranging from cost to suitable pitches to play football.
Despite being hugely passionate about the sport, Rick added he not only wants something that can help football clubs but also to benefit the community in a range of other ways.
He added: “As the idea grew and I thought more about it I thought it’s not just football that we could help - we could do something for youth clubs, fun days, an area where we could have barbecues for kids and bring people together.
“It would also be great to have a community centre that’ll be used for NHS meeting groups. Things where mental health groups can gather and have a chat or tearooms where people could meet if they are lonely.”
There’s three partners in total: Lisa Pugh and David Birds, who between them will deal with the health and wellness side of things as the project progresses, Meanwhile, Rick is taking the lead with the sport side.
Rick's background served in the British army for a total of eight years and was in the Duke of Wellington. He describes it as a massive part of his life and also helps run remembrance day parades.
He added: “I was looking through the park one day and just saw one singular poppy growing on its own. It sounds a bit cheesy but I saw it as a sign to try and do something with the area.”
The hub is going to be called for the pavilion and Rick is hoping to have it open in two summers time if everything goes to plan.
Rick says that he’s currently holding consultations with people in the local area to give them a chance to make suggestions and ask for things that they’ll actually use.
The first of those takes place on the 9th June at Lowedges Community Centre and the second follows later that month on 30 June at the Pavilion in Greenhill Park.