Sheffield needs 'four more football pitches' to meet demand, says council ahead of vote on outdoor sports plan

Council papers say Sheffield needs four more full sized football pitches to meet demand.

The Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee will vote this Monday (November 2) on a new plan to support outdoors sports to keep up with population growth.

The ‘Playing Pitch Strategy’ sets out how Sheffield could protect, improve and develop outdoor sports facilities through to 2039.

It includes boosting football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, hockey, ‘3G’ artificial pitches and baseball in the next 15 years.

It highlights a current shortfall equivalent of “4.25 full-size artificial football pitches”, with significant pressure on cricket provision and shortages affecting some grass football and rugby pitches.

If adopted, the plan would provide a framework for future investment to protect existing playing fields and strengthen the evidence available to secure more funding and developer contributions.

However, individual projects would still require separate funding and approval.

The report claims Sheffield cricket in particular is suffering from “overplay” with not enough pitches to go around.

It reads: “Cricket provision represents one of the most significant strategic challenges identified by the strategy.

“Current overplay across Sheffield’s cricket stock is substantial and is forecast to worsen over the Sheffield Plan period.

“The strategy therefore supports investment in existing grass cricket squares, improvements to training facilities and non-turf pitches, enhanced maintenance arrangements, and the reactivation of former cricket sites where feasible.”

It also states that over 100 clubs are rely heavily on access to sports pitches at schools to play - and suggests schools should be supported as a result.

It reads: “Many clubs identify poor-quality or absent changing rooms, toilets, storage facilities, social spaces and catering provision as barriers to growth.”