From SAFC.com
Sunderland AFC and Sunderland City Council have come together to find a solution to the club’s need for an indoor training centre. The two parties have agreed a joint venture that will benefit both the football club and the community.
The Council realises the importance of academy status to Sunderland and has temporarily provided them with the indoor space they require to maintain this status – by leasing the unused ice rink space within Crowtree Leisure Centre.
Academy status is crucial to Sunderland for two reasons: Firstly, to attract the most talented young players and secondly, only clubs with academy status can play in the FA Premier Youth Leagues.
It is essential that up-and-coming players obtain regular experience of playing against the country’s best youth teams. SAFC’s Academy will primarily use this facility for the development of their young footballers by using the indoor pitch for after-school coaching sessions.
Sunderland Football Club will refurbish the ice rink, removing the existing boundaries and seating deck and will floor the whole space with indoor turf.
Work is expected to start immediately and is anticipated to take approximately two months. The ice rink equipment currently in place under the turf will remain untouched.
When complete, the conversion will bring Tyne and Wear its only turfed indoor area available for public use, and both the City Council and the club feel it is important to ensure maximum community access is given.
Through its charity arm, the SAFC Foundation, Sunderland AFC will staff the facility during the day from Monday to Friday and will invite to the facility community groups and schools to be coached by SAFC’s community coaches.
In addition, the facility will be handed back to the City when not used by the club, to allow local groups to use it for their own sporting use.
SAFC vice-chairman, John Fickling, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for all concerned. It has provided us with a temporary solution that allows us to maintain our academy status, it has made use of a currently unused area within the leisure centre and it has re-opened this area for use once again by the local community.
“For us this is a short-term solution which allows us to maintain our academy status while we consider longer-term options.
“We have always had a fantastic relationship with Sunderland City Council and I think this joint venture illustrates how the Club and the Council can come together to the benefit of all.
“Sunderland Council have recognised the importance of the Football Club to the City and have been extremely understanding of our needs.
“I would like to express our thanks to the Leader, in particular, who has been instrumental in driving this project and to the City Council as a whole.”
Sunderland Council Leader, Cllr Bob Symonds said: “The Council has historically had a close working relationship with the Football Club and we are happy to help them out by leasing the ice rink on a short-term basis while its long term future is decided.
“The creation of an indoor football facility at Crowtree will also have spin-offs for the wider community, in particular City schools and young people who will be able to take part in SAFC Foundation community coaching sessions there.”
Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts, Sports and Leisure, Cllr Mel Speding, said: “The development of sporting opportunities is a high priority for the Council and we are particularly keen to encourage young people to take part in sporting activities.
“Leasing the ice rink on a short term basis, to the SAFC Foundation, will not only help the club but will also have wider benefits with community groups able to hire the synthetic pitch when it is not in use by the Academy.”
Groups who will especially benefit from the centre are those who might otherwise not be able to take part in football. In particular, the Football Club hopes the indoor area will allow coaches to pass on their skill to disabled children through regular sessions.
Sunderland City Council has granted the Football Club a two-year lease on the Leisure Centre facility, while they await the outcome of their leisure facilities review.