Football ground declared a community asset

A football ground is to be protected as a community asset following a successful nomination by fans.

Farsley Celtic FC's ground has now been added to Leeds City Council's list of assets of community value (ACVs), which means community groups would have the right to bid for it if it were ever put up for sale.

Farsley Celtic Supporters' Club had applied for the status for the club's community facilities and its main stadium, known as The Citadel.

John Stubbs, chairman of the supporters' club, said: "On weekends, it's a hub for people coming in and supporting the various teams. We just want to safeguard it."

Mr Stubbs said the club ran at least 30 teams, including junior teams, a team for people with hearing loss and a women's team.

ACV status means that if the owner of the property decided to sell, community interest groups could ask to be treated as a potential buyer.

The owner would then be prevented from selling for a six-month period while the group put together a bid to buy the asset.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a Leeds City Council report said: "The club has been used by generations of families and continues to do so.

"To lose this would leave a large hole within the community."

The report said the clubhouse was being used for regular social events, including as a meeting place for a local choir and a warm space for older people in winter.

"The club also provides structured activity for young people that helps to prevent anti-social behaviour within the local area," it added.

This season, National League North side Farsley Celtic FC has been playing its home games almost 70 miles away in Buxton after delays installing a 4G pitch at its home ground.

In February, the club said it was "facing a battle to get through the rest of the season" as it launched a campaign to raise £25,000 towards running costs and to help re-lay the pitch.

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