Bombshell as sports venue closes

The gates to their Firth Rixson Sports and Social Club home were locked shut last night by the site owners, the decision to pull the plug on Bawtry Road venue being made after it was no longer deemed viable.

The hockey club, with over 300 members at senior and junior level, have worked with Firth Rixon since problems surfaced last month to try and find a solution.

The artificial pitch at the ground has also been used by Brinsworth Whitehill, one of the town’s biggest junior clubs, who now now need to find a new training centre.

It also leaves the hockey club, whose men’s first team play in the Yorkshire League with the ladies side competing in the Northern League, without a base and officials are now working to find alternatives — which will probably be at either Ecclesfield School or Westfield Sports Centre in Sheffield, with no suitable facility in Rotherham.

Forgemasters Cricket Club, which has used the venue for more than 10 years has also been left homeless.

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