Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | May | 17
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Tuesday 17th May 2005.
Manningham Mills Sports Association are already planning great things for their new community sports centre - and it is still seven months away from completion.
Many sections of the Manningham community are eagerly awaiting completion of the £1million state-of-the-art building.
But trustee of the associaiton Andy Shepherd wants to make it clear that the cricket club has not been awarded the £1m.
Shepherd is worried that single-sport clubs in Bradford are getting the wrong end of the stick.
"I suspect there is a lot of jealousy from other clubs about our funding," he said.
There were grumbles from cricket league members about Manningham Mills getting the award at a recent meeting.
Work has already started on the new community centre at Scotchman Road after funding was obtained from Sport England (£665,000) and other European funding (£390,000).
"Some people think the cricket club has been awarded the funding, but they haven't," said Shepherd. "Having been involved with sport for 20-odd years, I fully appreciate the problems that other clubs have had. I know the sports facilities in Bradford leave a lot to be desired.
"But Manningham Mills Sports Association are the people who have actually got the £1m funding. The Association is the governing committee of Manningham Mills Cricket Club, Campion Football Club and Heaton Juniors Football Club.
"Between the three member clubs we have something like 200 children participating in sport at junior level, made up of junior football teams, boys and girls aged between seven and 15, and cricket teams, ages 11 to 17.
"These are multi-racial groups - Asian, black and white children who are all integrated. And within the area of Manningham Mills, that is extremely important.
"At senior level, 100-plus seniors make up the football and cricket teams playing there. Bradford Boys also use the football pitch.
"In the summer we put on cricket coaching courses for the juniors within the area."
And much work has been done within the community already by the unpaid members of the association.
Shepherd added: "We hope to employ five people - the main person being a community development officer who will go out into the community. Local schools will use the new community facilities - there is a shortage of space in the area for schools.
The new facilities will be used during the day and into the evenings and will be available to all community groups.
"What people do not realise is that a large amount of funding still has to be found from the club itself. We have to find a five-figure sum for this to go ahead. I think some people think we have got everything.
"One of the reasons single-sport clubs are struggling is because the criteria about funding has changed.
"The lottery people are keen on multi-sports, community-based facilities. That is why we ticked all the boxes."
The award of the cash marks the end of a five-year campaign to replace the dilapidated buildings. The changing room is being demolished and the new building will include changing rooms, community rooms, a computer room and creche.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008