27/8/07

Wakefield Athletic Football Club, who field three teams in the Wakefield & District Sunday Football League have been able to secure a "Rescue Package"
at the eleventh hour with “West Yorkshire Sports & Social Club” for this coming season for the use of their playing/changing facilities in Sandal.

The club which was founded in 1983 had become nomads following the loss of their playing facilities at Stanley Royd Hospital, Fieldhead Hospital and Lime Pit Lane, Stanley over the last few years.

Wakefield Athletic have been in constant touch with local MP's, WMDC, regional & local media in relation to the unfolding circumstances over the last decade.  The club were on the verge of throwing the towel in last season but managed to come through the crisis with the league agreeing to the club playing most of their matches away.

A ground was found for the club to play at Denhale Avenue in Flanshaw after Christmas but it proved to be the wettest pitch in Wakefield with only five games possible.  Last season proved very unsettling for the club.  It was very difficult to manage three teams without a common base.  This had an impact on the players - The first team got relegated for the first time in our history and the other two teams just avoided relegation too.

On a positive note, the club was able to offer up to 40 players a game of football every week in the most difficult period in the clubs 24 year history.  The club has grown over the years from one team to three open-age teams and one Junior team - proof that the club must be doing something right in offering footballing opportunities to the local community.  The club hope's to celebrate its 25th anniversary in season 2008-09 with a permanent base & develop further.

Following two urgent meetings between the Management Committee of Wakefield Athletic Football Club, Mr Chris Grace, Clubhouse Manager at the "West Yorkshire Sports & Social Club" and the Head Grounds man Mr Graham Carter, the following package was agreed to come to the "clubs rescue" for the coming season which starts on Sunday 2nd September '07:

*All three Wakefield Athletic teams to have changing/shower facilities on site at their new Sandal base.

*Adequate parking spaces on site for both the home & visiting sides.

*The First team & the "A" team to access the fields on Site.

*The "B" team to access the fields on nearby Barnsley Road Playing fields, previously used by Duke of York Rugby Club & Spring Grove FC.

*The use of Astro turf area for training under floodlights every Wednesday from 7.00 - 9.00 pm.

*The use of the Clubhouse after every game & the use of the private function room for any activities .

*Opportunity to develop Wakefield Athletic Football Club into the next era with a more stable base.

We are grateful to Chris Grace for offering Wakefield Athletic Football Club the use of their facilities at the West Yorkshire Sports & Social Club.  The opportunity of a permanent base should enable the club to put the uncertainty behind them, help form a clear vision for the club & the chance to re-build the confidence of its playing resource for the forth coming season.

Wakefield Athletic Football Club also hopes to attract local sponsors to enhance the clubs profile both locally & regionally and also attract local players at their new Sandal base.

Sal