New £750k Powerleague centre opens in Thornbury, Bradford

The 5-a-side football giants have taken over the site, located in Gallagher Leisure Park, off Dick Lane in Thornbury, from SportZone.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Gerry Barker and Bantams goalkeeper Harry Lewis cut the ribbon to officially open the facility on Thursday. 

Lewis said: "They are amazing facilities.

"The astroturf is high-end and there are loads of pitches here.

"It is nice to see kids running around and having a good time playing football."

The Lord Mayor (Image: Newsquest)In August 2023, Powerleague completed the acquisition of the facility and began the process of a full regeneration.

This includes an upgraded club and bar area, four new surfaces, and three completely new pitches.

The launch event, hosted between 4pm to 10pm, featured free coaching sessions for kids, a world-cup style knockout tournament for adults, and a free bubble football taster session.

Lewis went on to recall his own experiences at Powerleague down the years.

He said: "When I was younger, we had a Powerleague facility in Shrewsbury. I would spend all day down there.

"You would pay £2 and be able to play all day. I used to spend my summer holidays there. Even when I was older playing in 5-a-side leagues."

He added: "If we were allowed, we would be here in a heartbeat. We love playing 5-a-side in training. It is just fun!"

Harry Lewis attended the ribbon-cutting (Image: Newsquest)The Lord Mayor said: "It is going to be serving the local community and the whole of Bradford in the future. It is fantastic.

"I look forward to maybe coming back and kicking a ball around sometime."

Chief Financial Officer, Michael Evans, said: "This was an existing facility that only had three pitches, it was more a bar than anything else. We thought it was underutilized.

"It is beautiful. We invested in the playing facility to ensure they are first in class. The pitches and the playing experience are paramount."

Chief Financial Officer Michael Evans alongside the Lord Mayor (Image: Newsquest)Club manager, Daniel Gascoigne, said: "There is a lot that has gone into this. Compared to all our competition, we have got the best facilities in Bradford and we are the cheapest.

"It is a perfect location between Bradford and Leeds. We want it to be a hub for the community.

"We are providing football for everyone. It is about finding the future, who knows we might unearth the next Harry Kane here."

Powerleague Bradford is open seven days a week (Monday-Friday 4pm-11pm, Saturday 10am to 11pm and Sunday 12pm-8pm).

It costs £55 to rent a 5-a-side pitch and £77 to rent a 7-a-side pitch.