West Leeds campaigners are cutting the grass of a local sports facility which has laid derelict and overgrown for years ahead of a community kickabout with a difference.
The Save the TV Harrison Community Action Group is fighting against the selling off of the former sports pitch in Wortley to build 50 local authority houses on – and is holding a special community day on Sunday to highlight their campaign.
They’ve been working hard to cut down weeds and grass which have grown in the 14 years since a match was last played on the former TV Harrison Sports Ground – known locally as Wortley’s Wembley – ahead of a community kickabout.
Former Leeds United star Noel Whelan, who used to play at the Oldefield Road ground and has voiced concerns about the loss of the facilities, will also be present.
There will also be a barbecue, cakes, face painting, Chase from TV’s Paw Patrol, a raffle abd lkitter picking and land clearing on Sunday, June 16 from 11am. All welcome to attend.
A campaign spokesperson said:
“It’s all about coming together and enjoying what is already ours!”
More than 1,500 people – including Leeds United legend Eddie Gray – have signed a petition to save the TV Harrison ground from development by Leeds City Council, which wants to buy the site and build 50 houses there.
A public meeting on Tuesday discussed ways the community can take ownership of the land from charity Leeds Schools Sports Association, which owns most of the site, and restore it to community sports use.
The ground, which had sports played on it as far back as the 19th century, was the home of countless junior football matches which launched the careers of Leeds United players in including John Charles, Paul Reaney, Brian Deane and Noel Whelan. It closed 14 years ago and is now derelict and overgrown.
Campaigners say that the land was many years ago left in trust to the children of Leeds and should be reinstated as sports provision in the area.
The LSSA facilitate and hold junior football tournaments across the city, run school football leagues and organise representative matches between Leeds teams and those from other towns.
They currently hire other pitches across the city to hold those games. The LSSA are refusing to speak to the press and have maintained a wall of silence on the future of the land.
Check out the rest of West Leeds Dispatch’s coverage of this issue here.
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