£1.2m funding for East Bierley Community Sports Association

The investment has been awarded by the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation to East Bierley Community Sports Association and will fund a 3G pitch which will bring sporting opportunities and inclusive community activities to children and young people in Kirklees and the Bradford district.

Secured after 14 years of campaigning by parent volunteers, the money will enable the installation of an all-weather pitch for multi-sport use - part of an ongoing plan to create a sporting community hub at East Bierley, serving around 10 local sports clubs while creating a new facility for marginalised groups and young people with learning disabilities.

Board member Simon Armitage, who played for the first Birkenshaw Bluedogs rugby league team in 1989 and whose sons played for Birkenshaw Bluedogs juniors, said: “It’s amazing what can be achieved when a community comes together. Our improvement project for what was once just a playing field represents a real opportunity to make a difference. As a board we volunteered our professional skills but the will to succeed and refusing to give up were our main drivers.

Gomersal and Cleckheaton player Lincoln Fagborun and Bluedogs player Mary Turpin

"We’re so proud to have secured such groundbreaking funding to help us develop a facility which allows greater investment in more activities for youth and special needs organisations, schools, accessible to local and wider communities, ultimately bringing a lasting legacy to generations of young people.”

EBCSA formed in 2012 when Birkenshaw ARLFC and Hunsworth FC raised funds to redevelop changing rooms at East Bierley Playing Fields. The organisation, which supports Birkenshaw, Hunsworth and Gomersal and Cleckheaton Football Clubs, gained charity status in 2016 after East Bierley Recreation Ground was asset-transferred from Kirklees Council.

Above: Lincoln and his dad, EBSCA’s Bolu Fagborun (Image: Stephen Garnett)

Following campaigning by volunteers, the association secured funding from Sport England, the Football Foundation, Locality, Big Lottery, Spen & Batley District Committee for phase one of redevelopment works including pitch upgrades and improved changing facilities. The latest funding means phase two of the redevelopment can now go ahead.

Cheryl Bateman, whose sons play for Birkenshaw Bluedogs, said: “Our community has been relying on EBCSA to fight our corner for an all-weather outdoor facility. We are elated that funding is now through.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in strengthening communities. This grant award towards developing a new 3G pitch is fantastic news for the local community.”