Sports Centre terrace
What we do
We want to preserve the Sports Centre as a valuable community asset.
The Centre Members’ Group came into being in early 2019 to represent the interests of the commercial members, who contribute over £1.5m per year in fees. The commercial members’ fees were a major factor in allowing BoE-connected members to continue to benefit from the site over the last 25 years.
Our focus has been to keep the Sports Centre open during the transition period to new ownership, which was announced on 29 June 2021. We also provide input on behalf of ex-commercial members to the Bank Lane Community Sports Association (BLCSA).
Who we are
The Centre Members’ Elected Representatives are
- David Corless
- Paul Giles (Chair)
- Mark O’Donnell
- Wayne Phillips
- Rachel Smith
- Richard White
We are principally ex-commercial members with strong ties to the local community.
Cricket colts
Fast facts
History
- Established 1908 for benefit of BoE employees: 114 years of sporting achievement
- Before sale to AELTC, schools, clubs, charities and others relied on the Centre
- Officially recognised as an Asset of Community Value
- 29 June 2021, Centre became the ‘AELTC Community Sports Ground, Roehampton’, subsequently renamed the ‘Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Roehampton’.
Sports
- Facilities included: top-class pitches, swimming pool, gym, grass and hard tennis courts
- Sports played included: rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, football, tennis, squash, badminton
- Over 3,000 youngsters from all backgrounds used the club regularly
Financial highlights
- 1,947 commercial members generated a fee income of around £1.5 million/year
- 3,200 BoE-connected members generated an income of around £180,000 a year
- Site made a small profit of about £80k/year:
- Sports component made a loss on a cash basis (about £500k/year)
- Grange office block made a profit from rent on a cash basis (about £800k/year)
- There were also other costs of about £200k/year (including depreciation which is not a cash item)
The Grange (on the site, but not part of the Sports Centre – and not a listed building)