Sunderland RCA youth section explain how anti-social behaviour has hindered their quest for new pitches
Written by Thomas Kelly-Hansford on 10th May 2023
Sunderland RCA have released an update on their bid to secure new grassroots pitches with Covid, anti-social behaviour and local elections now hindering their progress.
The Northern League football side have a youth section that homes hundreds of children from Under 7s up – All of which proudly represent the RCA badge.
Sunderland RCA’s ever growing youth section has led to members in the committee realising there is a demand for more pitches for their squads.
Sunderland RCA YFC’s current 9v9 home pitch.
Over a year ago RCA set out in an attempt to secure some land in Ryhope. However, a string of anti-social activities led to the pitches being unplayable, hindering the club’s development.
A recent grant of £40,000 was secured to build protection around the pitches had the club moving in the right direction, but the recent signs suggest RCA are still some way off finalising this venture with local elections now playing their part in delaying the process.
The pitches would allow the club to bring on more teams and enable their current teams to train for free multiple times a week as opposed to having to pay a fee to train just once.
Here, U17 manager and Welfare Officer Paul Wilkinson explains where the club are currently at in their quest to secure new grassroots pitches and details the benefits it would bring to the area.
