Alleyne’s former swimming pool set to make way for football clubhouse

Stone’s former swimming pool at Alleyne’s Sports Centre is set to be redeveloped to improve facilities for a thriving local football club.

Stone Leisure Centre at Westbridge Park now provides swimming space for residents, but the former pool building at Alleyne’s Sports Centre on the other side of the town remains in place.
There were previously plans to refurbish the pool building for non-swimming activities – and £430,000 was allocated by Stafford Borough Council towards decommissioning the pool. But now the building, which is part of Alleyne’s Academy, is earmarked for demolition instead so it can make way for a clubhouse for Stone Old Alleynian’s Football Club.

On Thursday the borough council’s cabinet approved the use of the £430,000 for the new proposals. And Stone councillor Jill Hood told fellow cabinet members how Stone Old Alleynians were going from strength to strength.

She said:

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“I can only speak about this club bursting with pride. Stone residents and this council have seen this club grow – they now have 62 teams and 1,200 members, including 600 children.

“They are without doubt the biggest provider of football in Staffordshire and the West Midlands. They provide football for girls and boys of all abilities from age three to 70 – but I know there are some a lot older than 70 – and they’re champions of equality, diversity and inclusion.

“They have partnered with the local FA (football association), university and Stoke City Football Club, providing a space for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) pupils and pan, a format of football that involves small-sided games for a mix of disabilities and impairments, including learning disabilities. The pan football teams play on smaller pitches and they are now able to boast their own pan team representing Stone.

“For years they have worked with schools on all-girl football days and taken part within community coaching. They’ve just partnered with the committee of the week-long Stone Carnival, offering two football tournaments to children and adults.

“I can’t speak highly enough of this club. I sometimes go to the away games and they’re great ambassadors for Stafford Borough – I can’t help but marvel at how joyous they are, win or lose, and I watch those kids come off the pitch soaked to the skin but they’re still laughing and really enjoying it.

“The fact that there’s going to be a clubhouse there as well will be a wonderful facility. These guys really deserve this after the work they have put in for this over the years.

“This council should have recognised the quality and persistence of these children and adults years ago – it beggars belief why they have not managed to get through and get something done. The old swimming pool has been out of commission for years now and it’s a real eyesore, so to be getting rid of it and replacing it with a clubhouse is just incredible.”

Cabinet members were asked to allocate the funds once necessary planning consents for the project had been approved. A report to Thursday’s meeting said:

“Subject to cabinet approval, Alleyne’s Academy (AA) and Stone Old Alleynian’s Football Club (SOA) would use the funds to demolish the swimming pool hall and build a new club house, which would generate valuable income and increase the future sustainability of the club

“Currently the £430,000 had been allocated to fill in the existing swimming pool, being approved by Cabinet on 7 October 2021. However, the proposed redevelopment of the site and the subsequent removal of the existing swimming pool is considered a more efficient use of resources.

“The total cost of the project is £830,000 and will be project managed by SOA. The match funding of £400,000 to pay for the project is being funded by SOA, Staffordshire Football Association and private benefactors.”

When a survey of the pool hall was carried out, it was found that redeveloping the building into a sports hall would require more work than just filling in the hall, the report added. The fabric of the building would need to be refurbished, including heating, electrics and asbestos removal, and the cost would have been “prohibitive”.

The report added:

“It was also felt that even if this work was completed the resulting sports hall would have serious limitations. The roof is too low for several sports, and it was felt that the hall would be less than ideal for school use.

“Alleyne’s Academy and Stone Old Alleynians Football Club have been working closely for several years to develop football at the site. SOA, working with the Academy, have put together a development plan for the sport centre site.

“It includes the refurbishment of the synthetic pitch (and) the creation of a football pitch which would allow their first team to play all their home matches at the centre. The first team currently play their home matches at a facility in Mere.

“The demolition of the pool hall would allow the creation of a club house which SOA would be able to use when hosting matches. The income could then be used to fund the sustainability of the club (and) the business plan for the club house includes community use during the week.”