Councillors say they hope more sports clubs come forward to a manage open spaces after the keys to a Burntwood facility were handed over to new occupants.
Coppy Nook Playing Fields will now be run by Burntwood Dragons and Burntwood Phoenix Football Club.
The 25-year lease will see the football club become responsible for the pitches, changing block, play area and car park.
Councillor Iain Eadie, Cabinet member for leisure at Lichfield District Council, said the deal was good for the local community – and hoped other clubs might follow suit: “I am pleased the lease has been signed and that a football club, which has local connections, will be managing the site and working hard to make sure sport and leisure increases in this area.
“We know Coppy Nook Playing Fields is a much loved and used resource by local people, which is why we chose a club that will not only manage the facility well, but will boost sports participation.
“It’s really important that community assets, like the playing fields, are used and looked after by the people that know them best. Burntwood Dragons & Burntwood Phoenix Football Club will keep public access to the fields unrestricted, while we hope using their new position to grow the number of people who are involved in sport.
“If there is any other sporting club who would like to manage a public open space they can use for themselves and their community, please speak to us. We would like to see more local people making the decisions about what happens in their area.”
The club running the site was formed in 1996 and now has more than 300 players across different age groups.
Laurence Danan, Chairman of Burntwood Dragons and Burntwood Phoenix Football Club, said: “We are delighted to secure the lease for our home ground at Coppy Nook Playing Fields, where we have just celebrated the success of our annual 2017 Summer Football Tournament.
“From humble beginnings, the club has nurtured and empowered thousands of local community members and we have significantly grown our grassroots football family.
“Today we stand tall as an FA Charter Standard Football Club with over 300 amazing players in 32 adult and youth teams.
“We are forever grateful to both Lichfield District Council and Hammerwich Parish Council who have facilitated our permanent home ground at Coppy Nook Playing Fields in the heart of Burntwood and we are looking forward to managing the whole site for the local community.”