At today’s full council meeting, Crookes and Crosspool Councillor Ruth Milsom called on the Council to investigate bringing the disused sports ground at Weston View in Crookes into community use.
The Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre, currently closed, is named after the notable footballer who took key roles at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United throughout his lifetime, including as player, manager and chairman. It is owned by Sheffield United Football Club and its community foundation.
Photograph of Crookes Councillor Ruth Milsom outside the Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre.
Councillor Ruth Milsom tabled the following question to the Councillor Richard Williams, Liberal Democrat Chair of the Council’s Communities, Parks and Leisure policy committee:
“What discussions, if any, have taken place with SUFC about their disused sports ground at Weston View in Crookes and ways to bring it into community use?”
The centre has previously been operated as a gym and community sports facility, and as recently as 2019 Sheffield United FC advertised coaching sessions for boys and girls at the centre. The same SUFC coaching provision is now being offered at the Bole Hill Recreation Ground, with the Weston View site sitting empty.
At the meeting, Cllr Milsom pressed Cllr Williams about the site, asking for the Council to negotiate community usage with SUFC, calling it a ‘shame’ that the site isn’t being used.
Labour’s Ruth Milsom said:
“It is a real shame that at Weston View there is the potential for a high-quality community facility, that is currently sat being unused. I’ve had conversations with local residents, with community organisations like the Crosspool Juniors Football Club, and know how valuable it would be if we could bring a new life to that site.
“When it is named the Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre, it should be open to the local community to use. I hope the Council and SUFC can come together and find a solution to bring it back to life.”
Meurig Edwards, Chairman of Crosspool Juniors Football Club, said:
“We are working hard to improve our facilities and we have a long-term plan to develop and improve our site at Myers Grove, but we desperately need more grounds for training and matches, within easy reach of Crosspool and surrounding areas.
“It’s sad to say that with our current facilities we can’t meet the needs of all of our teams. Some of our matches are cancelled for lack of space to play. This is disappointing and frustrating for everyone involved. It affects our teams and players from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire who we play against.”
“There is a real shortage of artificial and floodlit pitches which are vital for training in the darker winter months. We have seen a growth in grass roots football recently, especially in new girl’s and women’s teams. Facilities have not kept pace with this welcome increase in participation”
