Council marks 36 years of community sport at Oakengates
Telford & Wrekin Council is recognising a long standing booking at Oakengates Leisure Centre which has now reached 36 years of continuous use, highlighting the role Council run leisure services play in supporting local businesses, community groups and long term participation in physical activity.
The regular indoor sports hall booking, used for five‑a‑side football, began in 1990 after a local league was disbanded. Working with Oakengates Leisure Centre, the group moved to a block booking arrangement, allowing them to continue playing on a consistent basis. That booking has remained in place ever since.
Oakengates Leisure Centre is operated by Telford & Wrekin Council through its leisure service, TW Leisure. Over more than three decades, the centre has provided a reliable and welcoming environment for regular physical activity, demonstrating the value of accessible, well‑managed public leisure provision in supporting health, wellbeing and social connection.
Over the years, many different participants have taken part in the booking, with the regular Saturday evening sessions promoting physical activity alongside strong social bonds. The long‑running arrangement also shows how Council leisure services can offer stability and continuity for local employers and organisations that value regular access to high‑quality facilities.
Nirmal Mattu, the group organiser said: “When the five‑a‑side league we were part of ended, Oakengates Leisure Centre worked with us to help keep the game going. We moved to a block booking in 1990 and, thanks to the consistency of the facilities and the welcoming approach of staff, that booking has continued ever since.
“For many of us, Saturday evening football has been about far more than just sport. It’s helped us stay active, maintain friendships and feel part of a community. Oakengates Leisure Centre has played a key role in supporting that for more than three decades.”
Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism, Culture & the Arts said: “This milestone is a great example of why consistent, well‑run leisure services matter so much to our communities and to local businesses. Facilities like Oakengates Leisure Centre provide dependable spaces where people can stay active, connect with others and build long‑standing routines that support their health and wellbeing.
“As a Council, we’re proud to support customers who have chosen to use our leisure centres year after year, and we remain committed to maintaining facilities that local organisations and businesses can rely on now and into the future.”
Through TW Leisure, Telford & Wrekin Council offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities across the Borough, supporting regular bookings for clubs, community groups and local businesses. Facilities include indoor sports halls, 3G pitches and a variety of spaces designed to help people stay active and connected.
More information about Council leisure facilities and bookings here www.telfordandwrekinleisure.co.uk