News: £9.5m vision shows Millmoor reborn
Plans have been revealed for an ambitious £9.5m vision for transforming the site of Rotherham United's former home into a new 2,000-capacity stadium, national women's football centre of excellence and community sports village.
Rothbiz reported first earlier this week that early stage discussions had taken place over the future use of Millmoor, the historic stadium that is currently being demolished.
Now Rotherham United Women FC has revealed its initial vision for the famous site following discussions with owners the Ron Hull Group and meetings with representatives of Rotherham Council.
The proposals would see football return to Millmoor, which was home to Rotherham United for more than a century before the men's team departed in 2008.
At the heart of the plans is a national centre of excellence dedicated to girls' and women's football, with facilities designed to attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the UK and potentially further afield.
The club believes the site could become a major destination for women's football development, offering opportunities from grassroots participation through to elite performance, alongside facilities that the entire community can enjoy.
The initial £9.5m vision includes a 2,000-capacity football stadium – a new home for Rotherham United Women, featuring a 3G playing surface, spectator facilities, hospitality and potential for future expansion.
A national centre of excellence for girls' and women's football – specialist coaching, player development, sports science, fitness and education, with ambitions to attract talent from across the country.
Other facilities could include padel courts, a health and fitness hub, community and multi-sport facilities and a tribute to Millmoor's heritage.
The club said that the aim is to create a destination that is busy seven days a week, bringing together elite sport, grassroots participation, education, recreation and community activity as well as acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration in Masbrough.
Phil Smith, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "We see an opportunity to create something genuinely significant here, not just for Rotherham but for women's football nationally.
"The ambition isn't simply to build a new stadium. It's to explore a dedicated centre of excellence that could attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the country, while creating facilities that schools, families and the wider community can benefit from.
"Millmoor has an incredible history, and there's an opportunity to give it a new purpose for generations to come.
"We've had constructive initial discussions with the Ron Hull Group and representatives of the Council. There's a considerable amount of work ahead, but we believe the potential deserves to be explored properly."
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Rotherham United Women will launch a two-week public consultation on Monday October 26, asking residents, supporters, schools, sporting organisations, charities and businesses what they want from the site.
The consultation will explore demand for the proposed facilities, identify what the community feels is missing and invite ideas that have not yet been considered.
Scott Thorpe, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "For nearly 20 years we've talked about what Rotherham lost when football left Millmoor. Maybe it's time we started talking about what Rotherham could gain.
"Imagine a new stadium, kids training on the pitches, families playing padel and young footballers travelling from all over the country because Rotherham has become somewhere they aspire to play.
"Why shouldn't we have something like that here?
"But this can't just be about what Phil and I think. We've got our ideas, and now we want to hear everyone else's.
"If you're a parent, a teacher, a local business, a sports club or someone who simply wants to see Rotherham thrive, we want you involved.
"We're not pretending this is a done deal. There are plenty of hurdles to overcome, but you've got to have ambition."
Rotherham United Women website
Images: RUWFC
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Rothbiz reported first earlier this week that early stage discussions had taken place over the future use of Millmoor, the historic stadium that is currently being demolished.
Now Rotherham United Women FC has revealed its initial vision for the famous site following discussions with owners the Ron Hull Group and meetings with representatives of Rotherham Council.
The proposals would see football return to Millmoor, which was home to Rotherham United for more than a century before the men's team departed in 2008.
At the heart of the plans is a national centre of excellence dedicated to girls' and women's football, with facilities designed to attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the UK and potentially further afield.
The club believes the site could become a major destination for women's football development, offering opportunities from grassroots participation through to elite performance, alongside facilities that the entire community can enjoy.
The initial £9.5m vision includes a 2,000-capacity football stadium – a new home for Rotherham United Women, featuring a 3G playing surface, spectator facilities, hospitality and potential for future expansion.
A national centre of excellence for girls' and women's football – specialist coaching, player development, sports science, fitness and education, with ambitions to attract talent from across the country.
Other facilities could include padel courts, a health and fitness hub, community and multi-sport facilities and a tribute to Millmoor's heritage.
The club said that the aim is to create a destination that is busy seven days a week, bringing together elite sport, grassroots participation, education, recreation and community activity as well as acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration in Masbrough.
Phil Smith, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "We see an opportunity to create something genuinely significant here, not just for Rotherham but for women's football nationally.
"The ambition isn't simply to build a new stadium. It's to explore a dedicated centre of excellence that could attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the country, while creating facilities that schools, families and the wider community can benefit from.
"Millmoor has an incredible history, and there's an opportunity to give it a new purpose for generations to come.
"We've had constructive initial discussions with the Ron Hull Group and representatives of the Council. There's a considerable amount of work ahead, but we believe the potential deserves to be explored properly."
Advertisement
Rotherham United Women will launch a two-week public consultation on Monday October 26, asking residents, supporters, schools, sporting organisations, charities and businesses what they want from the site.
The consultation will explore demand for the proposed facilities, identify what the community feels is missing and invite ideas that have not yet been considered.
Scott Thorpe, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "For nearly 20 years we've talked about what Rotherham lost when football left Millmoor. Maybe it's time we started talking about what Rotherham could gain.
"Imagine a new stadium, kids training on the pitches, families playing padel and young footballers travelling from all over the country because Rotherham has become somewhere they aspire to play.
"Why shouldn't we have something like that here?
"But this can't just be about what Phil and I think. We've got our ideas, and now we want to hear everyone else's.
"If you're a parent, a teacher, a local business, a sports club or someone who simply wants to see Rotherham thrive, we want you involved.
"We're not pretending this is a done deal. There are plenty of hurdles to overcome, but you've got to have ambition."
Rotherham United Women website
Images: RUWFC
