A PETITION has been launched by a local football club asking the council to ‘rightfully’ return the ‘pillar of sports and gathering’ to Silkstone Common.

Silkstone Common Miners’ Welfare Football Club currently play and train at the land on Hall Royd Walk.

It was land that they once owned, but they now lease it year-by-year from the council.

However this means they are unable to build on the land - relinquishing their chance to rebuild facilities that were burnt down in a fire almost 30 years ago.

Hannah Rowley, 30, a coach at the club, said it is only right the council enter talks with the football club over the land.

She added: “In 1926, the Silkstone Common Miners bought what was then known as Hall Royd Wood with money allocated by the Coal Miners Welfare Fund.

“That woodland would eventually become what is known today as the Silkstone Common Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground.

“In 1945, a pavilion was built on the clearing to comply with FA rules, allowing the grounds to be used by the football league.

“Unfortunately in 1996, a fire destroyed the facilities that had served the Silkstone community for over 20 years, taking with it the pavilion that had fostered the heart and community gathering place of Silkstone Common.

“In the years since passed, the land has been bequeathed by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) to Barnsley Council where it is held by a charitable trust of the council, under conditions that when replaced, the grounds and building be kept for its intended purpose.”

Following the fire, the recreation ground remained empty and became an umaintained field until 2022 when the club was revived.

Hannah and the club are therefore asking the council to consider handing over the ground back to the ‘rightful’ owners - or at the very least allow them to have a long-term lease so they are able to build on it.

She added: “We’ve put in a request to speak with the council but we’re not getting very far.

“We have to renew the lease every year.

“Without a longterm lease then we aren’t able to put anything onto the land.

“We host football matches here every weekend but we don’t have the right facilities.

“At the very least we would like a 25-year lease so we can start adding thing but ideally we’d like the council to hand the land back over.

“It would allow for the initiation of plans to bring together not only the community of Silkstone Common but many others, just as the miners had originally intended over 100 years ago.

“Plans would include improving the facilities already at the recreation ground as well as rebuilding the sports pavilion to support both indoor and outdoor sports, with accessible toilets, and changing facilities, a social space for activities and meetings as well as a home for the Old Silkstone Band.”

Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, told the Chronicle: “Silkstone Common Miners’ Welfare Ground was established in 1926 by the purchasing of land with monies allocated from the Coal Miners Welfare Fund.

“Under a Charity Commission scheme the custodianship of the site was transferred to the council in 1996.

“The council as yrustee is responsible for maintaining this land for recreational purposes.

“We have received several revised business plans in recent years relating to the potential to lease the site, however none that has demonstrated financial viability.

“Our recommendation is that Silkstone Parish Council and Silkstone Common Sports and Recreation Ground Association work together on a business plan which could demonstrate a viable future for the welfare ground, and this has been communicated to both parties.

“The council as trustee of the Miners’ Welfare Ground has a legal duty to ensure the site is managed in accordance with the trust deed and our park services team continues to maintain the site with works including regular grass cutting, provision of marked out football pitches and provision of goal posts in line with any hire agreements with the football teams.”