John Charles Centre for Sport
Encyclopedia
The John Charles Centre for Sport is a sports facility in South Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England. It was previously named (and is still known locally as) the South Leeds Stadium and was renamed to honour John Charles
(1931–2004), the former Leeds United, Juventus F.C.
and Wales
footballer. It is located to the south of Leeds
city centre roughly on the border of Beeston, Belle Isle
and Hunslet
. The sports centre opened in 1996.
The stadium has been used by Leeds United for reserve matches, and since November 1995 by Hunslet Rugby League Club
. It is the principal athletics stadium in the Leeds area and is the home of Leeds City Athletics Club. The sports complex also includes a tennis
centre and indoor bowls
and athletics centre. The stadium is one of the best available to clubs at Hunslet's level. The complex is comparable with the Gateshead International Stadium
.
. The facility also hosts several amateur Rugby League events.
has been re-routed, providing a direct service from Leeds city centre
. There are regular buses running on Dewsbury Road from destinations including Huddersfield and the Kirklees, and Moortown.
The centre is also served by rail with the Middleton Railway
station at Park Halt
providing limited access at weekends.
The Aquatics Centre opened on 29 October 2007. The Olympic size swimming pool
replaced previous facilities at the 40 year old Leeds International Pool
, once notable for its brutalist architecture and prominent city centre
position.
Two submersible booms built into the main pool enable it to be divided into three pools of different sizes and depths, allowing a flexible daily swimming programme. A floating floor allows the depth of the diving pool and 1/3 of the main pool to be varied from two metres to shallow water for teaching and 0–5 meters for the diving pool. As well as public swimming sessions, the pool hosts children's parties, sub aqua classes and swimming lessons. The centre is also suitable for national and international swimming and diving, with seating for 950 people overlooking the main pool and for 150 overlooking the diving area. The £16.5m centre also includes an aerobics
studio and multi-use rooms.
The relocation of the city's main public swimming facilities to South Leeds attracted criticism. It left the city centre deprived of facilities and the new centre is difficult to reach for people without the use of a car. The South Leeds Stadium is also remote for people in north Leeds and outlying villages and towns, although other public sport facilities are available throughout Leeds.
have been playing their home games here since 2007 on Sundays. They regularly get crowds of up to 100–200 people,
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England. It was previously named (and is still known locally as) the South Leeds Stadium and was renamed to honour John Charles
John Charles
William John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
(1931–2004), the former Leeds United, Juventus F.C.
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
footballer. It is located to the south of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
city centre roughly on the border of Beeston, Belle Isle
Belle Isle, Leeds
Belle Isle is a large suburb south of Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. It is bounded to the north and east by the M621 motorway.The district lies in the LS10 Leeds postcode area...
and Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
. The sports centre opened in 1996.
The stadium has been used by Leeds United for reserve matches, and since November 1995 by Hunslet Rugby League Club
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
. It is the principal athletics stadium in the Leeds area and is the home of Leeds City Athletics Club. The sports complex also includes a tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
centre and indoor bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
and athletics centre. The stadium is one of the best available to clubs at Hunslet's level. The complex is comparable with the Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a...
.
Hunslet Hawks & Rugby League in South Leeds
The stadium is the home venue of Rugby League Championship club Hunslet HawksHunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
. The facility also hosts several amateur Rugby League events.
Access
When opened, the sports centre could only be accessed by car or on foot, at the end of a road serving a factory estate. Since the road was extended through to Belle Isle, one bus route, Service 481 Leeds – WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
has been re-routed, providing a direct service from Leeds city centre
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
. There are regular buses running on Dewsbury Road from destinations including Huddersfield and the Kirklees, and Moortown.
The centre is also served by rail with the Middleton Railway
Middleton Railway
The Middleton Railway is the world's oldest continuously working railway. It was founded in 1758 and is now a heritage railway run by volunteers from The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd...
station at Park Halt
Park Halt railway station
- History :The halt is the current terminus of the railway. It is situated next to Middleton Park. The halt was constructed so passengers could alight to walk around the ex-colliery site of Middleton Park and allow for the run-round of trains.- Information :...
providing limited access at weekends.
Aquatics Centre
Olympic size swimming pool
An Olympic-size swimming pool is the type of swimming pool used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is 50 meters in length. This is typically referred to as "long course", delineating it from "short course" which applies to competitions in pools that are either 25 meters or 25 yards in...
replaced previous facilities at the 40 year old Leeds International Pool
Leeds International Pool
The Leeds International Pool often referred to as the LIP, was a swimming facility in Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. The Pool was situated at the lower end of Westgate and was notable for its brutalist architecture...
, once notable for its brutalist architecture and prominent city centre
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
position.
Two submersible booms built into the main pool enable it to be divided into three pools of different sizes and depths, allowing a flexible daily swimming programme. A floating floor allows the depth of the diving pool and 1/3 of the main pool to be varied from two metres to shallow water for teaching and 0–5 meters for the diving pool. As well as public swimming sessions, the pool hosts children's parties, sub aqua classes and swimming lessons. The centre is also suitable for national and international swimming and diving, with seating for 950 people overlooking the main pool and for 150 overlooking the diving area. The £16.5m centre also includes an aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
studio and multi-use rooms.
The relocation of the city's main public swimming facilities to South Leeds attracted criticism. It left the city centre deprived of facilities and the new centre is difficult to reach for people without the use of a car. The South Leeds Stadium is also remote for people in north Leeds and outlying villages and towns, although other public sport facilities are available throughout Leeds.
Gaelic Football
The stadium is also used for gaelic matches for time to time. Teams from all over Yorkshire, Manchester and Ireland compete for a trophy every yearTennis Centre
The tennis centre at John Charles Centre for Sport consists of 6 indoor pitches and 6 outdoor pitches. There is also a spectator balcony, changing facilities, meeting room, and cafeteria. The courts are available to hire on a pay and play basis and can be booked up to seven days in advance or eight days in advance by LEEDSCard holders. There are a wide range of tennis sessions available to adults and youths including coaching, individual lessons, social tennis, and competitive league opportunities.American football
Yorkshire RamsYorkshire Rams
Yorkshire Rams are an English American Football club, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They represent the county of Yorkshire. They are currently playing in British American Football Association Community League Division 1.-History:...
have been playing their home games here since 2007 on Sundays. They regularly get crowds of up to 100–200 people,