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Better netball facilities in West Yorkshire are urgently needed, according to Yorkshire’s only Super League club.
NIC Leeds Rhinos have previously played their fixtures at the First Direct Arena in Leeds but opted to play in Sheffield this year due to the facilities available.
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England Netball said, despite being the third most popular team sport for men and women, in Leeds there are only four outdoor netball courts compared to 50 basketball courts.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said it had looked into building a new 5,000-seat indoor sports arena, but it would be difficult to secure public funding.
It comes as the Netball Super League season gets well underway.
Lisa McCormick, general manager at NIC Leeds Rhinos, said they needed larger facilities that were especially designed for sport.
“Because the First Direct is not a purpose-built sports facility, we had to bring the court, the lights and everything that makes the experience the best for fans and players,” she said.
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As a result, the club will play all this year’s home games at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena, which is purpose-built for sport.
McCormick said the club had been in conversations with England Netball, Leeds Rhinos, WYCA and Leeds City Council about plans for a new indoor arena.
“We are keen to drive that, but until we are at the point where we can name some sites and look at it, then we are at a sticking point,” she said.
The Rhinos train in Leeds but will play all their home fixtures in Sheffield this year [BBC]
Grassroots clubs like Shipley Swifts have also struggled with the cost and availability of training sites.
“Facilities are expensive, there’s no subsidy for anybody, kit is expensive, equipment is expensive. It’s quite an expensive sport,” the club’s treasurer Cath Holmes said.
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England Netball’s development officer for South Yorkshire, Carlee Sissons, said outdoor venues were in decline.
“We know netball is a popular sport but that’s not reflected in local parks so girls don’t feel part of that,” she said.
A WYCA spokesperson said: “The mayor is committed to ensuring every young person in West Yorkshire has access to grassroots sport, and progress is being made to increase facilities across the region.”
But it said a report on plans for a new arena found projected earnings would not cover costs, meaning securing public funding posed “significant challenges” and instead presented an opportunity for private investment.
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