‘No strategy, no thought, no action’ - Jessica Ennis-Hill’s Olympic coach reacts to Sheffield athletics crisis
‘The next generation has been wrecked and it shouldn't be like that’ says Toni Minichiello
Sheffield Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill’s former coach, Toni Minichiello, has described the decision to close Woodbourn Road athletics stadium as “pathetic” and has expressed concerns about the city’s chances of producing more top talent if things don’t improve soon.
The track at Woodbourn Road in Attercliffe was closed by Sheffield Hallam University, which operates the site, on April 6, leaving many athletes having to cancel their weekly meet-ups or travel outside of the city to continue training.
The university closed the track because they deemed it to be unsuitable for competitive athletics due to the track’s problems with shock absorption - which is essentially how much force travels back into an athlete's body during high-impact activities like running, jumping and falling.
Without good shock absorption athletes become much more prone to injuries such as joint strain and stress fractures.
Toni Minichiello, who coached Ennis-Hill to gold at the London 2012 Olympics, thinks the track should have remained open purely for training purposes, with athletes being informed of the potential risks and having the option whether to use the facility or not.
He adds that there appears to have been no progress made towards getting the stadium reopened.
He told The Star: “I’m disgusted at the situation. It’s a simple tenant and landlord agreement - they’ve breached it in more than one place.
“They’ve not maintained it and they need to repair it. If they don’t the council can replace it and send Sheffield Hallam the bill.”
His comments come more than a month after representatives from a number of Sheffield running clubs teamed up to express an interest in taking over Woodbourn.
They group submitted the proposal on Monday, April 27 and are currently awaiting a response.
Sheffield City Council said at the time, that the proposal was at a "very early stage, with more detail required to assess whether this could represent a viable option.”
Toni continued: “They’ve made no progress at all since closing it in April. The track was closed for a pathetic reason.
“You can still run on track, it’s just not suitable for the National Championships as it needs to be at a level.”
The situation has led to hundreds of youngsters being forced to find other means of training. Some are travelling to Barnsley, Rotherham or Mansfield while others without the means to travel are just training in parks or running on the pavements.
“I haven’t got the figures for participation, but people are basically being scattered around and it’s turning off a whole group of people and making it really difficult especially if they haven’t got the means to travel or they can’t afford it,” Toni said.
Sheffield has a rich history in athletics with Ennis-Hill being one of the faces of the London 2012 Olympics after winning gold on home soil.
“People talk about Olympic Legacy Park but it all seems ironic when there’s no track and when athletics was one of the main talking points that summer,” added Toni.
“How can a city produce so many Olympic medalists? It feels like if anyone comes through now, it will be in spite of everything they’ve had to deal with rather than what they have at their disposal.
“The next generation’s chances have been wrecked and it shouldn't be like that.”
In the short-term, Toni says he wants to see the track reopened. He adds: “The council needs to be more active but they appear to be fast asleep. It’s total mismanagement. Nothing short of disgraceful.”
Last month, Sheffield City Council said: “We recognise the strength of feeling within the athletics community regarding the current situation at Woodbourn Road and the impact this has had on athletes, clubs, schools and families across the city.
“We are actively working with Sheffield Hallam University and wider partners to reopen the track as soon as possible, while also developing a sustainable long-term future for athletics provision in the city. We welcome the passion and commitment shown by local athletes, clubs and residents, and we are engaging constructively with those who want to help secure a positive future for athletics in Sheffield.
“While some discussions remain commercially confidential, our focus is on supporting Sheffield’s athletics community and ensuring the city continues to provide opportunities for participation, development and competition in the future.”
Also last month, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “We’re putting ourselves forward to be at the forefront of a Northern Olympic bid because of the investment that would demand, in sporting facilities, transport infrastructure and much more besides.
“Nowhere is that need more evident than when it comes to athletics facilities across Sheffield.
“People are right to be deeply frustrated with the situation at Woodburn Road, and I will of course continue to press for a solution to those problems, so the next generation of athletes have the facilities they deserve in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.”