West Yorkshire is in desperate need of better netball facilities, according to Yorkshire’s only Premier League club.
NIC Leeds Rhinos have previously played at Leeds First Direct Arena but have chosen to play in Sheffield this year due to facility conditions.
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Netball England said that despite being the third most popular team sport for men and women, there are only four outdoor netball courts in Leeds compared to 50 for basketball.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said it had considered building a new 5,000-seat indoor sports stadium but it was struggling to secure public funding.
It comes as the Netball Premier League season is well underway.
NIC Leeds Rhinos general manager Lisa McCormick said they needed a larger facility designed specifically for sport.
“Because First Direct is not a purpose-built sports facility, we have to bring pitches, lights and everything to give fans and players the best possible experience,” she said.
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As a result, all of the club’s home games this year will be played at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Stadium, which was purpose-built for the sport.
McCormick said the club had been in dialogue with Netball England, Leeds Rhinos, WYCA and Leeds City Council about plans for a new indoor pitch.
“We’re keen to push this forward but we’re stuck before we can name some sites and study them,” she said.
Rhinos train in Leeds but will play all home games in Sheffield this year [BBC]
Grassroots clubs like Shipley Swifts also face issues with the cost and availability of training grounds.
“The facilities are expensive, no one is subsidized, the gear is expensive, the equipment is expensive. It’s a pretty expensive sport,” club treasurer Keith Holmes said.
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Carly Sissons, Netball England’s development officer for South Yorkshire, said outdoor venues were being reduced.
“We know netball is a popular sport but this is not reflected in local parks so girls don’t feel involved,” she said.
A WYCA spokesperson said: “The mayor is committed to ensuring every young person in West Yorkshire can take part in grassroots sport and progress is being made to increase facilities across the region.”
But it said a report into plans for the new venue found projected benefits would not cover costs, meaning access to public funding posed a “significant challenge” and instead provided opportunities for private investment.
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