Farsley Celtic: Football ground of Leeds club listed as asset of community value to 'safeguard' future

Leeds City Council agreed to include Farsley Celtic Football Ground on its list of assets of community value (ACVs).

Farsley Celtic Supporters’ Club applied for the status for community facilities and the club’s main stadium the Citadel.

An ACV listing means community groups have the right to raise cash to bid for assets if they are put up for sale.

National League North side Farsley Celtic FC have been playing home games almost 70 miles away in Buxton this season after delays installing a 4G pitch.

The former chairman also recently resigned after saying that he was subjected to death threats.

The club is now being run by a group of four directors, one of which, John Stubbs, said that the acquisition of an ACV means they can “safeguard” the football ground.

He said: “We have 30-plus teams, including junior teams. We have a deaf team and a ladies’ team.

“On weekends it’s a hub for people coming in and supporting the various teams.”

A council report said the clubhouse was being used for regular social events, including as a meeting place for a local a choir and a warm space for the elderly in winter.

It said: “The club has been used by generations of families and continues to do so and to lose this would leave a large hole within the community.

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“The club also provides structured activity for young people that helps to prevent anti-social behaviour within the local area.”

ACV status means that if the owner of the property decides to sell, community interest groups can ask to be treated as a potential buyer.

The owner is then prevented from selling for a six month period while the group comes up with a bid to buy the asset.

The report said: “However, the landowner is free to dispose of the property at the end of the six-month period to whomsoever they see fit.”