Wombwell Main Football Club has received a significant boost in its quest to upgrade its facilities, with Barnsley Council’s Cabinet backing the granting of a 25-year lease for the recreation ground currently used by its youth teams.
The decision, made by the Cabinet on Wednesday, May 14th, is now subject to final approval by the full council next Thursday, May 22nd.
If ratified, the lease will be agreed with the Wombwell Main Community and Sporting Association Community Interest Organisation (CIO) for the Mitchell and Darfield Miners’ Welfare Ground, a nine-acre site located off Roy Kilner Road in Wombwell.
This landmark move is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the cherished local sports club and empowering their ambitious plans to enhance the recreation ground and its facilities for the broader community’s benefit.
Currently, Wombwell Main Football Club hires the Mitchell and Darfield ground for its junior and senior teams. Securing a long-term lease would grant the WMCSA CIO greater autonomy over the site’s maintenance and future development. Crucially, it would also unlock opportunities to apply for vital capital funding from the Football Foundation through their Pitch Power programme.
Initial plans for the potential funding include the installation of security fencing and significant improvements to the playing surfaces, which will directly benefit the young players and the wider community who use the pitches.
The WMCSA CIO also harbors longer-term aspirations for the site, including the provision of much-needed welfare and changing facilities, as well as car parking, all of which would be contingent on securing the necessary funding and planning consents.
Councillor Robin Franklin, the Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, championed the decision, stating: “This lease transfer will be a key step towards a successful future for the Wombwell Main FC and the Mitchell and Darfield Miners’ Welfare Ground.”
He further highlighted the community benefits, adding, “The CIO is a valuable asset for the community, and this agreement will empower them to seek funding to make the investments necessary to enhance their facilities. It will not only benefit the sports club but also the wider community, providing improved recreational spaces for everyone to enjoy.”
The council’s support for the lease aligns with the objectives of their Principal Towns and Local Centres Programme, which aims to ensure all communities across the borough are thriving by supporting the maintenance and improvement of local sports facilities.
