Clubs unite on 'first of kind' sporting venue plans

Two elite women’s sporting teams are working together to build a new ground.

Durham Women FC and Durham Cricket have joined forces on plans to create a base at Chester-le-Street.

Officials say the proposed site – which would host Women’s Super League football and tier one cricket – would make the North East the UK’s “first region of sport”.

The blueprint includes a high-performance football centre, which would be designed around the needs of the female athlete and fan.

Wider ambitions include creation of a women’s sports hub at the Chester-le-Street Riverside complex. 

The centre would act as a base for Durham Women FC, who are currently fourth in the Barclays Women’s Championship, with facilities for day-to-day training, a performance centre and administration offices. 

It would be available for community use for male and female grassroots sport. 

The development would then create a link with Durham Cricket, which has recently been granted a tier one professional women’s team.

There are also proposals to create a 150-room hotel, creating more opportunities for residential sports events.

Lee Sanders, director at Durham Women FC, said: “This is a fantastic prospect to create a women’s sports hub for Chester-le-Street and the wider region. 

“Proposals for the site would allow for a facility specifically for women’s football and wider women’s sport, making it the first of its kind in the UK. 

“The different options for the site will allow the complex to be multi-purpose, supporting Durham Women FC but also local girls' and boys' football clubs, athletics clubs and international cricket, as well as recreational space for the public and additional parking. 

“This will be a high-capital project including private and commercial investment.” 

Tim Bostock, Durham Cricket chief executive, said: “We have fantastic women’s teams for both football and cricket in Durham, competing at elite professional levels. 

“Creating this development will not only help these teams continue to achieve great things, but it also opens opportunities for more women and girls to get involved in football and cricket, sport and the wider sporting event industry.” 

Councillor James Rowlandson, Durham County Council portfolio holder for resources, investments and assets, said: “Talks are in very early stages, but we are looking forward to exploring this opportunity. 

"We have some fantastic female sporting talent in County Durham, and this is an exciting time for sport in the North East.”

North East mayor Kim McGuinness added: “There could not be a better place for an elite women’s sport centre than Chester-le-Street. 

“Durham Women FC and Durham Cricket fly the flag for women’s sport at an elite level, but our region is a hotbed of young talent, with some of the strongest grassroots women’s leagues in the country. 

“We will make North East England the first UK region of sport, and projects like this have huge potential to be part of that story.”

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