Sandylands Sports Centre | Skipton

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welcome to sandylands

Sandylands was founded by the late John W Coulthurst J P from Gargrave. The Coulthurst Craven Sports Centre, known locally at Sandylands Sports Centre, became a self-help Registered Charity in 1984. It is a none-profit making organisation run in accordance with a Declaration of Trust dated 31 August 1984. The latter ensures that there is no discrimination in respect of sex, age, physical ability or race.

The Sports Centre is run by a voluntary Management Committee, representing the sports in the area and the two Councils, namely North Yorkshire Council and Skipton Town Council.

Sandylands Sports Centre is the main provider of comprehensive community-based sport and recreational facilities in Craven. It attracts over 200,000 person visits per year.

Since 1989, around £2 million has been raised, by means of grants, loans and donations, for improved and new facilities at the Sports Centre. In particular, the £850,000 3G Full Size Floodlit All-Weather Pitch and associated Changing Rooms development was completed in 2004. This is now one of the most well-used facilities of its kind in the country. 

  • Roger Beck (Chairman, Public), 
  • Ruksana Mahmood (Vice-Chair, Public Co-Opted), 
  • Peter Wilkinson (Badminton), 
  • Gary Calam (Tennis), 
  • Trevor Howson (Public), 
  • Ji Mukherjee (Cricket), 
  • Warren Burnett (Rugby), 
  • Clive Carroll (Football), 
  • Bev Bruce (Fitness), 
  • Adam Cox (Public), 
  • Andy Solloway (Co-opted, Public), 
  • Robert Cole (Wellington Rifle & Pistol Club),
  • Brian McDaid (Skipton Town Council). 
  • CLIMBING WALL – the rejection by North Yorkshire Council’s UKSPF Team (Levelling-Up Fund) of a £530,000 grant, which stated that they found the proposed Climbing facilities to be unacceptable as they were to be operated by a private company (Bradford Climbing Hub), meant that the Sandylands Sports Centre Management Committee had to “scale-back” the full project, which has meant the omission of a climbing wall and bouldering facilities. 
  • DEDICATED GYMNASIUM, MEETING ROOMS & CAFÉ – An application for a Non-Material Amendment of the original Full Planning Permission was granted on 14th May 2024 and the Management Committee, at the meeting on 25th June 2024, agreed a revised quotation of just under £1 million + VAT from A M Bowdin Ltd for the amended scheme. A Sub-Group of Trustees has been created to liaise with the main contractor, to ensure a successful outcome of the much-need community project. It is hoped that the development will commence in September/October 2024. A Rental Agreement is currently being “drawn-up” between Sandylands Sports Centre and Craven Gymnastics Club for the use of the Dedicated Gymnasium. British Gymnastics consider that the purpose-built Dedicated Gymnasium at Sandylands Sports Centre will be one of the very few such community developments in the country. 
  • DISABILITY SUITE – the second Disability Suite at Sandylands Sports Centre has recently been created at the All-Weather Pitch Changing Rooms building. Both Disability Suites will shortly receive Ceiling Hoists. 
  • 3G PITCH – the internal alterations to the reception and entrance area have now been complete. 
  • Two covered PADEL COURTS – the £370k development of Phase 1, comprising two Covered Padel Courts and Fencing and Floodlighting, commenced on 12th July 2024. The 245k loan required for Phase 1 is one of the first such approved by HSBC. Work is progressing well and should be completed by the end of September 2024. 
  • Three additional TENNIS COURTS – it is hoped that Phase 2 will be undertaken in 2025. It is hoped that the Lawn Tennis Association could be involved in Phase 2 of the project. 
  • Safer FOOTPATH for Centre users. A Trustee, Councillor Andy Solloway, has been pursuing North Yorkshire Council to ensure that they undertake the much-needed approved “link” road from Ings Lane to the Southern By-Pass. The completed highways scheme will result in heavy goods vehicles being prevented from using Engine Shed Lane opposite the Sports Centre entrance and thus considerably improving vehicle and pedestrian safety. 

Update October 2022: A book compiled by Roger Beck (Chairman) and entitled The History of Sandylands Sports Centre, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Sandylands Sports Centre at Skipton on 11 November 2022, is now available for download on the Sports Centre website here  https://sandylands.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sandylands-Book_Web2.pdf. It has been designed by Charlotte Fox Marketing and a few hard copies will be produced by John Mason Printers of Skipton.

meet the team

Daile Coope

The Gaffer and ‘part of the furniture’ at Sandylands. Skipton born-and-bred; Daile started at the sports centre in early 2008 while finishing his Philosophy & Sociology degree at the University of Leeds. Away from the sports centre, his interests are football where he is Club Secretary and Director of Football at neighbouring Skipton Town AFC, and electronic house music, being a part-time disc jockey and frequenting MMW in Miami, Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium and the ‘White Isle’ of Ibiza.

Andy Hey

Another long-serving member of the team, Andy can be found on shift most mornings during the week and thereafter in the fitness room undertaking personal training sessions. Having a strict diet, Andy spends a lot of his spare time keeping himself in tip-top condition but also enjoys his music, DJ gigs, socialising with friends and watching his beloved Manchester United.

Geoff Tallon

The longest-serving member of the team, Geoff can mainly be found on the outdoor pitch reception, starting employment here at Sandylands when the 3G pitch was opened in May 2004. Having been a keen punk-rocker in his youth, Geoff still enjoys the occasional music gig and is an avid ‘Gunners’ supporter. In his own words, he spends most of his spare time running around after his two children!

Hakan Aydin-Osmond

Hakan’s full-time employment is with a sports recruitment agency but he has been here at Sandylands for over three years. He enjoys visiting family over in Turkey, playing football and socialising on nights out with friends. When asked what animal he is most comparable to, he reluctantly said ‘goldfish’ – you can draw your own conclusions from that!

Ismaeel Hussain

Ismaeel is a local lad and new to the team starting in early June 2023. He is currently studying Biological Sciences at Manchester University and aims to become a chemist when he graduates. He spends most of his spare time sparring in the boxing ring and playing social football.

Jake Donald

Started part-time in October 2018, and became full-time in September 2020 and more recently Assistant Manager. A Skipton resident, Jake has been coming down to the sports centre since he was a young lad and still keeping with tradition by causing havoc for the staff! A keen music lover, Jake can often be heard “singing” while about the sports centre undertaking his duties, making sure everyone knows where he is! In his spare time, Jake can often be found at a variety of music gigs and Turf Moor, cheering on the ‘Mighty Clarets’.

Luke Airdrie

Luke is the youngest member of the team and despite being from over-the-border in Barnoldswick, he is currently in a scholarship at Bradford City AFC, where he plans to stay in the game in some capacity for the foreseeable future. Luke also has a keen interest in golf, spending plenty of time in the summer months on the fairway but occasionally in a bunker!  

Mia Petrucci

Mia joined Sandylands in early 2022 and has just finished her A-Levels at Skipton Girls High School (July 2023). Mia is planning to go travelling in the near future to the Italian Alps, a place her family has close connections with. In her spare time, Mia is a keen hockey player and enjoys socialising with her friends.

Ryan Sumner

Ryan joined the sports centre in February 2022 but wasn’t new to the site as he previously was a gym instructor in the fitness room. Fully qualified in sports massage, Ryan has a keen interest in rugby and cricket, playing for North Ribblesdale RFC and for Settle CC respectfully. Often found wearing a pair of shorts, it’s fair to say Ryan isn’t the biggest fan of a suit!

Sarah Binner

A long-serving member of the team (since 2008!), Sarah has undertaken a variety of roles over the years, but more recently with book-keeping and admin for the Management Committee. Sarah operates her own sports injury clinic and having two young children, this takes up the majority of her spare time.