Stockport Sports Village set for major next phase as partners back long-term commitment to community sport and education. Plans sustain grassroots football while expanding the Club’s Academy, education pathways, women’s sport, and community programmes.
Stockport County Football Club, Stockport Council, and Life Leisure have today confirmed plans for the long-term transformation of Stockport Sports Village (SSV), confirming the site’s future as a centre for sport, education, and community use.
Stockport County Football Club will take on the operation of SSV from 1 April. The move continues to build on the strong community foundations established by Life Leisure since 2012.
Under the plans, Stockport Sports Village will become the central hub for the Club’s Academy, women’s teams, Football Education programme, and Stockport Town Football Club. Community and grassroots football will continue, with these uses due to expand as part of future plans.
Stockport County currently operates its Category Three Academy and Football Education programme from the site, supporting around 250 higher-education students each week. The Club intends to expand its education offer to young people from across Stockport, including an enhanced Further Education pathway and the introduction of a Degree in Football Coaching from 2028.
By 2030, approximately 500 students are expected to be in education at Stockport Sports Village. Alongside education and elite development, the Club will broaden and deepen the range of programmes delivered through the Stockport County Community Trust at the site, increasing the number of local residents who can benefit from activities that boost physical activity, improve wellbeing, raise educational attainment, and help build stronger communities.
As a result of the operational change, the current public fitness facilities at SSV — including the gym, H1VE and studio classes — will close from 1 April. Life Leisure will support all affected members to move to alternative centres across the borough. To accommodate these changes, the Council has plans for further capital investment in facilities across the borough, including expanded provision at Life Leisure Romiley and the new fitness and swimming facility opening at the Marple Hub later this year.
The deal has been structured to provide ongoing benefit to the community, supports further investment in Life Leisure facilities across the borough, and underpins the ongoing success and growth of Stockport County Football Club.
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Stockport Sports Village has played an important role in our borough for many years and will continue to do so in the future. This decision backs long-term investment in young people, education and community sport and in our towns football club, while continuing to strengthen fitness provision across our Life Leisure sites across the whole borough.
“A strong football club goes hand in hand with a strong town, and this is a confident step that reflects Stockport’s ambition along with our commitment to healthy, active communities across the whole borough.”
Ken Knott, Stockport County Football Club’s Non-Executive Chairman, said: “Taking over operations at Stockport Sports Village from April, and moving towards ownership later this year, marks an important milestone for Stockport County and gives us the stability to plan for the long term and invest with confidence.
“The Sports Village has been an excellent home for our Academy and education programmes, and this investment is a key part of our wider strategy to support young people and community wellbeing across the borough, while also strengthening the Academy to help build a competitive and sustainable Club for the future. This will create clear pathways through football, education, and community activity, with community and grassroots use protected as a core part of the site’s future.”
John Oxley, Chief Executive, Life Leisure, said: “We are immensely proud of the contribution we have made in developing high quality community provision that has provided accessible and affordable grassroots sport and physical activity opportunities over many years. Our priority now is supporting members through this change and ensuring they continue to have access to excellent facilities. Our teams will work directly with our fitness members to help them transition to other Life Leisure hubs, while we invest in new and expanded provision across the borough. This is a positive moment for Stockport’s sporting future, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
