Friends Of Spring Lane

Friendsofspringlane is a residents' group whose main aim to increase the use of Spring Lane Playing fields for organised sport.

Our long term aim is to reinstall traditional institutions such as district level football /cricket and athletics associations to dovetail the excellent work of the School Sport Partnerships.

The current situation regarding Unattached EDUCATIONAL sites are a great concern across the city. The understandable need for Basic provision in schools and housing has certain pressures but it is essential that these sites maintain an educational /sporting focus in development moving forward.

Realistically if we could develop 16 - 20 unattached fields we would have the infrastructure to deliver world class inter school competition that naturally developed players and moved them into appropriate clubs.

Spring Lane in particular could be HQ for Erdington district football and cricket while Yenton Playing fields could be provide additional facilities for schools towards the northern edge of the district.

When Birmingham School Sports was initially developed in the 1950's it was based on the council model of 10 districts and easch district had associations in football, cricket, athletics, rounders, and netball. The winner from each district progressed to the all Birmingham competition of the best 10 schools across the city.

20 unattached sites (2 per district) would provide the basic infrastructure necessary to embed this properly over a 12 month period. With cost reductions to BCC being paid out of schools Sport Premium - Pupil Premium - Staffing using increased PE teacher grant up £1. 3m. Grants available through club /community links would provide funding for capital investment in facilities.

The challenge of the future must be to do something different because the current state of our 32 unattached sites is not acceptable never mind outstanding.